cultural discrimination.

• Adopting teaching and learning practices that include global issues

throughout the curriculum.

In teaching a culturally diverse class, to what extent can you do the following? • Cope with the
challenges of a multicultural classrooms.• Adapt my teaching to the cultural diversity of students.•
Ensure that students with and without a migrant background work together.• Raise awareness of
cultural differences.• Reduce ethnic stereotyping among student

• It is important to be responsive to differences in cultural backgrounds.• It is important for students

to learn that people from other cultures have different values.• Respecting other cultures is
something that children and young people should learn as early as possible.• Children and young
people should learn that people of different cultures have a lot in common.• Schools should
encourage students from different socio-economic backgrounds to work together.• Students should
learn how to avoid gender discrimination.• It is important to treat female and male students equally.•
It is important to treat students from all socio-economic backgrounds in the same manner

The multilingual, multicultural

societies of the twenty-first

century in which we live celebrate

this diversity and at the same time

challenge us to think creatively about

the way in which we educate the

citizens of the future. More than ever

before, education is at the

heart of these relationships

and is central to all efforts to

ensure that knowledge

societies are grounded upon

considerations of equity,

respect for cultural diversity

and the protection of the

common good. n emphasis on building

knowledge societies through
quality education will also
be linked with issues of linguistic and
cultural diversity particularly in relation
to the maintenance of a culture of
peace. Respect for each other through
understanding and the development of
universal values such as tolerance,
democracy, and non-violence imply
learning about other cultures and
languages and becoming aware of the
fact that there are more ways than one
of interpreting the world in which we live. promote dialogue on the role of
language and culture as key factors
in the development through education
of understanding among people. he role of culture in
relation to education for
sustainable development
is one that is crucial. As the Nobel
laureate Wole Soyinka has said:
“Culture is the primary source of
knowledge [and] the understanding
of nature begins with local culture.” Respect for cultural and
linguistic diversity, different
systems of belief and indigenous
knowledge will figure strongly in
the design of local solutions for
sustainability, with particular
regard to the role played by local
languages as a storehouse of
knowledge on biodiversity and
sustainable development.”. education for diversity is
transformative education that includes the concept of social justice, as well as
multiple perspectives of various social groups. This is a conscious, continuous
and focused effort to overcome and deconstruct the dominant stereotypes
and prejudices and to recognise and prevent discriminatory practices so that
“students from different racial, ethnic, and social class groups experience
educational quality” (Banks, 1993: 3).
Understanding the diversity – religion, language, cultures…

teachers are encouraged to

learn about other cultures in order to be able to work better with students
from different backgrounds and to understand their points of view, so thatthey can develop an
atmosphere of appreciation of diversity in their schools/
classrooms. an intercultural approach promoting respect for diversity,
knowledge about other cultures and understanding the contribution of various
social groups to the community, without a social justice approach.

Respecting the diverse opinions and practices

Promoting harmony in a plural society

Treating all equal – speak in common language, being unbiased,

Refrain from being biased

the ability to ensure

every student an opportunity to achieve full potentials: the ability to recognise
both subtle and not-so-subtle biases and inequity, the ability to respond to
biases and inequities in the immediate term, the ability to redress biases and
inequities in a longer term and the ability to create and sustain a bias-free and
equitable learning environment for all students. teachers should accept the “philosophy” of
intercultural education, or
values that promote respect of diversity, equity and social justice, and should

be able to actively apply these values in their professional practice and lives.
Attend multi-cultural events. When teachers fail to discourage behavior that stems from stereotypes
or misconceptions, it can foster bias against students of certain cultural backgrounds.

Teachers should be aware of preconceived ideas about the students in the classroom to guard against biased
talk on the part of other students.

What are some teacher behaviors that could encourage (and discourage) multiculturalism?

The first step for any teacher is being aware at all times that they are addressing a classroom spanning
languages and culture. Everything they say, the examples they give, the issues they address, the opinions
they express, and the stories they share should keep a higher perspective to avoid issues of prejudice in
religion, culture and social structure. Self-awareness is a huge factor, as is being able to create a space
where students feel their opinions are valid and accepted, and that there is no right or wrong answer.
Experiencing the freedom to say things without fear, ridicule or judgment encourages the most interactive
and enriching learning experiences for everyone.
Mentor

School
Counselors School counselors typically work one-on-one with students and gain a fuller understanding of a
child’s background and home life. They can help teachers understand challenges that your students are
facing outside of the classroom that can be affecting their learning. Teachers who don’t take time to get to
know their students’ backgrounds often set a negative precedent for student engagement.

Commit to speaking to all students on a regular basis, to send the message that interacting and learning
about one another is important.

Teachers have been shaping lives for centuries. Everyone remembers their favourite (and of
course their least favourite) teachers. This important group of people even has its own special
day, marked each October by the United Nations.