The problem with violence and ethnic diversity in the classroom is out of control. School violence has reached astronomical proportions in the past five years. Because of the "minority to majority" program that buses in students from different social, economic, and ethnic backgrounds, a clash has formed in the classroom that teachers do not know quite how to handle. The dominant theme of fear of conflict and confrontation and the desire to have safe positive images even at the cost of using unauthentic and inaccurate materials and activities, suggests that before students can begin to portray the diverse cultures of the world and of those living in the United States, they will have to grapple with and consider the issues of history, equality, and diversity in a more direct manner than they have until now.
Schools are seen as cultural sites, which become arenas for cultural negotiation, translation, and knowledge. They should be used as a place where learning and discussion can create hope and possibility for a promising future. It is not enough for teachers to present authentic materials and strategies for teaching. They must also
A first step toward teaching children about different socioeconomic status, ethnic diversity, and various cultures, should begin in the elementary school atmosphere. Some strategies that could help implement these ideas into the minds of children are to appeal to what they relate to: music, stories, television, and computers. Using "traditional" songs and stories meshed with "modern" views and opinions could be a way to portray the history, current views, and the future of different cultures. Allowing children to find information on the internet or pre-selected computer programs will not only help them overcome their fear of new technology -- which they might not be exposed to at home -- but give them experience they will need in the ever-developing computer age. Also, videos for television that portray similarities between ethnic minorities and the majority population, information about their history and cultures, and reasons why the program was made, would be a visual and mental stimuli for children to remember.
Socioeconomic conditions may effect a child's ability to pay attention in class, especially if that condition is of a
All papers and essays are for research and reference purposes only!
Copyright 2002-2009
Direct Essays , LLC. All Rights Reserved. DMCA Webmasters make $$$$