AAX101 Course Outline

Multicultural Studies: Appreciating and Valuing Differences

BA (Education) Year 3 Essential Module

Lecturers and Tutors

: Dr. Rahil Ismail (HSSE) (HSSE, Rm 3-03-139, email: rahil.ismail@nie.edu.sg , 67903402) (Coordinator). Dr. Pat Wong (ELL) (ELL, Rm 3-03-165, email: patricia.wong@nie.edu.sg, 67903033). Dr. Joel Gwynne (1) (ELL, Rm. 3-03-157, email: joel.gwynne@nie.edu.sg], 67903406) Dr. Sim Yong Huei (HSSE, Rm 3-3-150, email: yonghuei.sim@nie.edu.sg, 67903411) Ms Junaidah Jaffar (HSSE, Rm 3-3-158, email: junaidah.jaffar@nie.edu.sg, 67903416) Ms Ethel Chong (email: strawblade1@yahoo.co.uk ) Dr. Geraldine Song (email) song.geraldine@gmail.com Ms Emily Bong (email: gulpofair@yahoo.com.sg) Ms Sandra Kamarasamy (email: sandra.k@nie.edu.sg) Ms Uma Jayaraman (email: umajay@singnet.com.sg )

Number of AUs Duration

: 3 : 36 hours (August 2011)

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Description
Crucially, trainee teachers will be challenged to reflect upon how race, ethnicity and culture have been defined, applied and managed to the extent that we tend to identify ourselves automatically by race first than by any other definers, and how this has affected subtly or otherwise the way Singaporeans see themselves, the region and also the rest of the world. The course is not designed to understand the other races but to dispel the notion that being ostensibly multiracial means that multiculturalism is being practiced. Multiculturalism has also been assumed to speak only of race or ethnicity, but it is much more than that. It also addresses class, gender and social structures. It also speaks of a frame of mind, of whether a society is really open and truly embraces equality and justice. Multiculturalism also speaks of difference openly, of how difference can be made to work so that no one is made to feel different, so that society is not always understood in terms of we and them. Fundamentally, the course will be a critical, honest and informed analysis of how we, Singaporeans have been shaped by the range of socio-economic policies that has fashioned our country, our perceptions and even our relations with regional countries, friends, neighbours and of course our students in the classroom. At the end of the course, trainee teachers will have an improved understanding of the meaning of multiracialism and multiculturalism and the dynamics of these forces on our lives. These students will also have been educated to reflect upon differences as not a case of the other or tolerance but as frames of references which can surface genuine empathy, awareness, understanding, justice, respect and harmony. Essentially, trainee teachers will be equipped with the critical knowledge to be activist teachers in the classroom who champion inclusive and respectful environments for all.

Objective
The primary aim of this essential module is to introduce trainee teachers to the meaning, impact and implications of living in an ethnically diverse environment through a course that encourages reflective inquiry into every aspect of Singaporeans lives. Fundamentally, trainee teachers have to recognise that their role as teachers has placed them in an invaluable position to not only impart information on Singapores diverse cultures but also one that can sharpen awareness of the implications of living in a multiracial and multicultural society amidst an increasingly divisive global situation.

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Organisation of Course
Lectures will be conducted by Dr. R. Ismail and Dr. Pat Wong. Tutorials will be conducted by the tutors listed above. Please refer to the Lecture Schedule and Tutorial Groups below for details. Please note that tutorials will follow the week AFTER the lecture.

Course Content and Schedule

No. of contact hours each week: 3 hours Duration of the course: Week 1 (8th August) through to Week 13 (31st October) 2011. Schedule for Lectures: Group 1 (LT 1) Monday 1130-1230 Group 2 (LT 1) Monday 1230-130

Schedule for tutorials: Group 1: Tuesday, 830 to 1030 (Dr. J Gwynne) Group 2: Tuesday, 830 to 1030 (Ms. Sandra Kamarasamy) Group 3: Tuesday, 1230 to 230 (Ms. E Chong) Group 4: Tuesday, 330 to 530 (Dr. P Wong) Group 5: Tuesday, 330 to 530 (Ms. E Chong) Group 6: Tuesday, 330 to 530 (Dr. Rahil Ismail) Group 7: Wednesday, 830 to 1030 (Dr. Sim YH) Group 8: Wednesday, 830 to 1030 (Ms Junaidah Jaffar) Group 9: Wednesday, 230 to 430 (Ms Junaidah Jaffar) Group 10: Wednesday, 230 to 430 (Ms Emily Bong) Group 11: Wednesday, 230 to 430 (Dr. Sim YH) Group 12: Wednesday, 330 to 530 (Dr. P Wong) Group 13: Thursday, 930 to 1130 (Ms Junaidah Jaffar) Group 14: Thursday, 930 to 1130 (Dr. Rahil Ismail) Group 15: Thursday, 130 to 330 (Ms Ethel Chong) Group 16: Thursday, 330 to 530 (Dr. Rahil Ismail) Group 17: Thursday, 330 to 530 (Dr. G Song) Group 18: Thursday, 330 to 530 (Ms. E Chong) Group 19: Friday, 830 to 1030 (Dr. G.Song) Group 20: Friday, 830 to 1030 (Ms. Sandra Kamarasamy) Group 21 Friday, 830 to 1030 (Ms. Emily Bong) Group 22:Friday, 1030 to 1230 (Ms Emily Bong) Group 23:Friday, 1030 to 1230 (Dr. G Song) Group 24:Friday, 1030 to 1230 (Ms. Sandra Kamarasamy) Group 25: Friday, 1230 to 230 (Ms Uma Jayaraman) Group 26: Friday, 1230 to 230 (Dr. Sim YH) Group 27: Monday, 230 to 430 (Ms Ethel Chong)

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Group 28: Monday, 430 to 630 (Ms Ethel Chong) Group 29: Friday, 230 to 430 (Dr. G Song) Group 30: Friday, 230 to 430 (Ms Uma Jayaraman)

Sessions Week No. 1. 8 Aug 2011 2. 15 Aug 2011 3. 22 Aug 2011 4. 29 Aug 2011 5. 5 Sep 2011 6. 12 Sep 2011 7. 19 Sep 2011 8. 26 Sep 2011 9. 3 Oct 2011 10. 10 Oct 2011 11. 17 Oct 2011 12. 24 Oct 2011 13. 31 Oct 2011 Description Introduction to the Course Charles Taylor and the Politics of Recognition Self and Identity On race, Ethnicity and Culture (1) On race, Ethnicity and Culture (2) Multiracialism, Multiculturalism and Singapore (1) Multiracialism, Multiculturalism and Singapore (2) RECESS Multiculturalism in Our Schools (1) Multiculturalism in Our Schools (2) The International Perspective E-Learning Week Overview Lecture

Assessment
Students will be assessed on the following: 1st Short essay questions (on 1st half-semesters work) (35%) This is a series of 5 short essay questions (of 250-300 words each) which will gauge your understanding of the lectures and readings for the first half of the semester. The questions will be posted on Blackboard after the lectures on Friday, 16 September (Week 6) Deadline: Monday, 19 September 5 pm. 2st Short essay questions (on 2nd half semester work) (35%) This is a series of 5 short essay questions (of 250-300 words each) which will gauge your understanding of the lectures and readings for the second half of the semester. The questions will be posted on Blackboard after the lectures on Friday, 28 October (Week 12) Deadline: Monday, 31 October 5 pm. Critical response to lecture/ article in e-Learning Week (20%) This is a critical, reaction response to a brief reading which will be posted on online on Monday 24 October (Week 12) and submission deadline Friday, 28 October 5 pm.

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Class participation & engagement Students are encouraged to participate fully in the tutorials, engaging with the lecture material as well as the readings.

(10%)

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON PLAGIARISM Evidence of plagiarism will be dealt strictly and within the new institution-wide guidelines for reporting, addressing and penalising clear cases of plagiarised work. This can result in a low and/or failure grade and noted in official records. Please make sure you understand what constitutes plagiarism and academic dishonesty. Please read the details that have been posted on Student Portal or read the files under Course Documents in Blackboard. All assignments are to be submitted through Turnitin in Blackboard. There will be NO rewrites or trial submissions. Please make sure that you submit the correct and final paper for the assignments and have the mark of academic integrity that reflects careful, critical work. Please include a signed declaration on plagiarism together with a hard copy of your assignments to your tutors. Please note that under the new regulations, assignments submitted without a signed declaration will not be assessed. All related documents on submission can be found in Blackboard.

IMPORTANT REMINDER ON ATTENDANCE All NIE students are under the employ of the Ministry of Education and with it are bound by certain responsibilities. If you are ill and are unable to attend a tutorial, please inform your tutor ahead of timeand submit the medical certificate at the next tutorial. If you are unable to attend the lecture because of illness, please submit the Medical certificate to me or place it in my mailbox at the HSSE part of Block 3, Level 3. We assume that attendance as a fundamental component of your training as teachers would be bound by the honour system: you would be present at the lecture allocated to you rather than one which you consider personally convenient to you. There will be random checks on attendance for lecture and if you are not present when your name is called, a medical certificate is expected. A warning letter will be issued if you have deemed to be absent without a valid reason or established a pattern of willful absence from both lectures and tutorials.

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Recommended Reading
Texts These will be made available in two separate compilations which may be bought from the library vendor in the first week for the first compilation and at a later date for the second set. First Compilation Reading List Please note that the first section of the compilation includes the articles we will be using for lecture and our class discussions. In the second section are articles for reference and further reading. [The compilation includes all.] Section 1 The Complexity of Identity: Who Am I?, Beverly Tatum The Politics of Recognition Charles Taylor (1994) [posted on Blackboard]* The Puzzle of Ethnicity and Race, Stephen Cornell & Douglas Hartman [posted on Blackboard]* The Cultural Logic of Singapores Multiracialism, George Benjamin (1976) Multiculturalism and the Cultural Politics of Pluralism, John Clammer (1998) The Making of National Culture in Singapore, Tong Chee Kiong & Anne Pakir (1996)

Section 2 Multiracialism and the Structuring of Ethnic Relations, Lian Kwen Fee & Michael Hill (1995) Section on Singapore in International Handbook On Race & Race Relations, John Clammer (1987) Is My Skin Brown Because I drink Chocolate Milk?, Beverly Tatum Mapping the Terrain: Definitions, Cornell and Douglas

Second Compilation Reading List This is not the complete list as other readings will be made available progressively during the second half of the semester. i) Gordon W Allport, The Nature of Prejudice (Cambridge, 1954/1979) (pp. 142-162).

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ii) James A Banks, Multicultural Education: Characteristics and Goals, in James A Banks & Cherry A McGee Banks (eds.), Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives (2005) ( pp. 3-5, 16-26). iii) Carl A Grant & Christine E Sleeter, 'Race, Glass, Gender, and Disability in the Classroom' in James A Banks & Cherry A McGee Banks (eds.), Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives (2005) (pp. 61-73) iv) Christine Lee, Mary Cherian, Rahil Ismail, Maureen Ng, Jasmine Sim and Chee Min Fui, 'Children Experiences of Multiracial Relationships in Informal Primary School Settings' in Lai Ah Eng (ed.) Beyond Rituals and Riots: Ethnic Pluralism and Social Cohesion in Singapore (IPS 2004) (pp. 114-143) v) Kenneth Paul Tan, 'Ethnic Representation on Singapore Film and Television' in Lai Ah Eng (ed.) Beyond Rituals and Riots: Ethnic Pluralism and Social Cohesion in Singapore (IPS 2004) (pp. 289-315). *A note on Allport: the chapter is on 'Traits Due to Victimization' (pp. 142-162) and while the some examples might be new to you or that some terms are no longer in use (or avoided) for example 'Negroes', the analysis and insights are useful in supporting further the discussions we had for the past 8 weeks.

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