Critical Review: Multicultural Education By Julie Kailin

The book begins with a strong basis and finishes with the same note since it is based on the research work conducted by Julie Kailin. The author conducted her ethnographic research in the schools of the Midwestern city. The book creates arguments on three main points. The first emphasis is on the idea that teachers should become the agents of antiracist change (Kailin 122). The second argument dwells on the point that antiracist education should become incorporated into the school curriculum and become an integral part of the education system (Kailin 74). The final argument focuses on the idea that multicultural perspectives should be a key element in the education system (Kailin 23). The book contains eight chapters split into two parts, where
She further makes a distinction between the antiracist education and the multicultural education to evade the confusion that may arise to the readers. The uncritical structures of multicultural education incline to be reformist to minorities. On the other hand, the antiracist education mostly studies the causes of inequality by analyzing education from the viewpoint of the oppressed. It aims at examining the root causes of the problem while seeking the solution statement. Moreover, it aims at describing both the differences and relations to domination. She believes that the multicultural education may not address the issue of racism in depth. In fact, she notes that the multiculturalism concept is broad and not specific as it may refer to anything in the school concept. It lacks a transformative emphasis approach that does not educate on the structures and ideas that contribute to the onset of
The books pedagogy struggles with economic, political and ideological concerns that are an issue when it comes to multiculturalism. I think that her approach that emphasizes on the study of the role of capitalism in keeping racial inequality in society is what makes her book the best when it comes to dealing with liberal racism (Kailin 64). Since racism exists in the school setup, the teachers should aim at eradicating its root causes. Moreover, the education system should work on increasing the number of teachers of color while demanding the use of the same education mode for all students. Besides, the students make up the majority of the population in the society.
In conclusion, Antiracist Education: From Theory to Practice presents a study of Americans schools with the aim of outlining the problem of racial discrimination and inequality. In her book, Kailin emphasizes the fact that teachers should change their educations system to provide all students equal access to education. Allowing changes in the education system might not only eradicate cases of racism in the school institutions but also in the society at