Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism

Multiculturalism has been used by scholars and practitioners from countries all over the world in referring to educational efforts to instruct and infuse more positive values about human pluralism and to improve the learning potential for all students. Multiculturalism is a philosophical position and movement that assumes that the gender, ethnic, racial, and cultural diversity of a pluralistic society should be reflected in all of its institutionalized structures but especially in educational institutions, including the staff, norms and values, curriculum, and student body. It recognizes that equality and equity are not the same thing, meaning that equal access does not necessarily guarantee fairness.

Within the United States, the origin of multiculturalism was more concerned with freedom, liberty, and equality and less with particular subcultures in society. However, over time, multiculturalism has evolved to focus on ethnic and cultural diversity, as well as cultural...