Effective Multicultural Education: What Today's Teachers Want

Abstract

This article reports valuable research findings summarizing survey responses from 20 practicing pre K-12 teachers reflecting their understanding of effective multicultural education and identifying what today's teachers want. Prior to course instruction, participants were asked to define multicultural education specifying what they want for themselves as professional educators and what they want for their learners. The array of teachers' responses was synthesized into five significant, yet interconnected, themes offering a multitude of global applications. Teachers reported that effective multicultural education should: (1) offer natural and authentic learning experiences; (2) balance integration and emphasis of concepts, content, and processes; (3) create caring communities and solid citizenry; (4) apply powerful pedagogical theories and practices; and (5) promote growth, development, and transformative change in both educators and their learners. Details accompanying each theme provide clear guidance and pragmatic suggestions from today's practicing teachers beneficial to teacher educators, pre K-12 classroom teachers, school administrators, and staff developers.