Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society
We are obliged to make sure that every child gets a healthy start in life. With all of our wealth and capacity, we just can’t stand by idly.
Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2000
ISBN: 0-536-29978-1
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society, Seventh Edition, by Donna M. Gollnick and Philip C. Chinn. Published by Prentice-Hall/Merrill. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter
2
Class hile he was still in college, Tomas Juarez had decided he wanted to work with children from low-income families. He began his teaching career, however, in a culturally diverse suburban school. The school had been built only a few years before and included state-of-the-art science labs. Students were proficient with computers; they even helped Mr. Juarez develop his skills. Most of the students participated in extracurricular activities, and their parents were active in school affairs. More than 90% of the previous graduating class had enrolled in postsecondary programs. It was a pleasure to work with a team of teachers who planned interesting lessons based on a constructivist approach, engaged students in the content, and developed higher-order thinking skills. After a few years, Mr. Juarez decided that he was ready to take on the challenge of an inner-city school where most students were members of oppressed groups. As soon as he stepped into his new school, he realized that he had been spoiled in the suburbs. First, the smell wasn’t right and the halls were dirty even though it was the beginning of the school year. The room that was to be his classroom did not have enough chairs for all of the students who had been assigned to the class. Not only did the room look as if it had not been repainted for 20 years, but several windowpanes were covered with a cardboard-like material, and numerous ceiling tiles were missing. His first thought was that both he and the students would be exposed to asbestos and
W
ISBN: 0-536-29978-1
47
Secretary of State Colin Powell, 2000
ISBN: 0-536-29978-1
Multicultural Education in a Pluralistic Society, Seventh Edition, by Donna M. Gollnick and Philip C. Chinn. Published by Prentice-Hall/Merrill. Copyright © 2006 by Pearson Education, Inc.
Chapter
2
Class hile he was still in college, Tomas Juarez had decided he wanted to work with children from low-income families. He began his teaching career, however, in a culturally diverse suburban school. The school had been built only a few years before and included state-of-the-art science labs. Students were proficient with computers; they even helped Mr. Juarez develop his skills. Most of the students participated in extracurricular activities, and their parents were active in school affairs. More than 90% of the previous graduating class had enrolled in postsecondary programs. It was a pleasure to work with a team of teachers who planned interesting lessons based on a constructivist approach, engaged students in the content, and developed higher-order thinking skills. After a few years, Mr. Juarez decided that he was ready to take on the challenge of an inner-city school where most students were members of oppressed groups. As soon as he stepped into his new school, he realized that he had been spoiled in the suburbs. First, the smell wasn’t right and the halls were dirty even though it was the beginning of the school year. The room that was to be his classroom did not have enough chairs for all of the students who had been assigned to the class. Not only did the room look as if it had not been repainted for 20 years, but several windowpanes were covered with a cardboard-like material, and numerous ceiling tiles were missing. His first thought was that both he and the students would be exposed to asbestos and
W
ISBN: 0-536-29978-1
47
References: American Political Science Association. (2004). American democracy in an age of rising inequality. Washington, DC: Author.