We need to spend more time educating kids in elementary about other ways of life. We used to have these life studies books that documented a person's daily life in another place. Schools need to increase the time spent on social studies, Life lessons and basic language for kids in grades one to four then focus on math and sciences. Right now we're not setting the foundation, the right mentality in kids. Or maybe social studies should be split up into two blocks instead of one. Life lessons and Social studies, one for personal development and one for the big picture.
[QUOTE=Sexy Eskimo;32385411]I don't want my children to be brainwashed by some political correct bullshit. Religion classes today is more then enough to educate children about religion and culture.
You should be able to criticize everyone and everything without it becoming a taboo subject. Even if you do teach children about multiculturalism it wont solve the the parallel society issues, difference of culture and issues related to immigration.
It would just silent critics.[/QUOTE]
Shouldn't some effort be made, however? It seems like a reasonable claim to say that without multicultural education things could be a lot worse. That if people don't understand other people's culture and customs it will lead to a lot of racial violence.
Are there any alternatives to multicultural education as it is taught now, that you think would work better?
[QUOTE=HawkeyeTy;32385768]
This is really mostly xenophobia, why don't people realize immigration and cultural melting pots are one of the basic building blocks of civilization?[/QUOTE]
What about some people's claims that the melting pot actually hurts the people inside it? Los Angeles, for example, is considered a pretty liberal city, in a pretty liberal state, but is one of the most racially violent in the United States. As Latino and African-American populations migrate around the city(many neighborhoods have changed from black to hispanic or vice versa in the last decade alone), it causes a lot of racial tensions. These groups feel that others are moving into their rightful land and take a lot of offense to it. Gang violence is very much racially motivated in many cases. Not only this, but there have been many cases of innocent, non gang-affiliated people having been killed simply for crossing into a neighborhood of another race.
Also Sweden is a great example of a very progressive nation that has a lot of cultural hatred. Immigration is very high in Sweden, and this causes a reaction from the native population. There are a lot of people calling for the expulsion of these immigrants, closing the borders, etc. Sweden gets a large amount of multicultural education AFAIK(although Sexy Eskimo would be way more knowledgeable about that then me).
Can you solve these problems with multicultural education?
I think that it is important for children to learn that people of all walks and skin colors have contributed to the global society we have today.
But I don't think that they should be told any one group is above others. This goes for months celebrating one ethnicity or culture above others.
Multiculturalism is working just fine in Canada.
[QUOTE=Ridge;32386405]I think that it is important for children to learn that people of all walks and skin colors have contributed to the global society we have today.
But I don't think that they should be told any one group is above others. This goes for months celebrating one ethnicity or culture above others.[/QUOTE]
It seems you're referring mostly to black history month, and really misunderstanding its purpose. It isn't about celebrating blacks as being above others, it's about celebrating them as finally being equal after centuries of being lesser.
True multiculturalism doesn't really exist anyway.
It's more like "you can keep some aspects of your culture and you should be grateful for it"
Just as Contag has said, true multiculturalism can not exist anyways (because humans aren't a perfect race and we'll never see the day of true multiculturalism), however strong multiculturalism is good because it does encourage an equal and just society. It teaches people to tolerate and live in harmony with those who might live a different life style, so it's pretty much for the greater good.
How can this even be an issue? Of course there shouldn't be any limits to what you can and cannot teach in schools at all.
[QUOTE=_Kent_;32385771]What do you mean by a "religion class"? I've never heard of such a thing in a public school.[/QUOTE]
thats because the teaching of religion is illegal in public schools in the US
[QUOTE=OrionChronicles;32397821]thats because the teaching of religion is illegal in public schools in the US[/QUOTE]
No it isn't. Promotion of religious is illegal in a public school. Teaching what different religions believe is not. I had a religious sort of class in high school that taught about Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, and Judaism.
I think that we should learn all about other cultures in school. I think that history months are really interesting, and I get to learn more about other cultures and their past. It's interesting to learn about other people and other cultures, maybe we could learn a thing or two from them.
Came on here expecting to see more white males whining about how nobody took the time off to teach about them and how there's no "white history month". I was pleasantly surprised.
Well the whole idea of "All cultures being equal." is nice and yes I would love for newer generations to slowly start taking on that idea. Unfortunately cultures without ethnocentrism aren't probable in our society. Especially in America where you are taught a bunch of lies out of a text book for a good majority of your childhood. You don't only learn from the education system you primarily learn your views of the world from your parents so if you have extremely ethnocentric parents (Like I do, sadly.) its difficult to see other cultures as normal. Example, most of the kids in my school think that all middle-easterners are terrorists because of what their parents and fox news has taught them.
So yes in my opinion it should be taught but I don't think it would change the world all that much either way.
[QUOTE=DJWulf;32402602]Well the whole idea of "All cultures being equal." is nice and yes I would love for newer generations to slowly start taking on that idea. Unfortunately cultures without ethnocentrism aren't probable in our society. Especially in America where [B]you are taught a bunch of lies out of a text book for a good majority of your childhood.[/B] You don't only learn from the education system you primarily learn your views of the world from your parents so if you have extremely ethnocentric parents (Like I do, sadly.) its difficult to see other cultures as normal. Example, most of the kids in my school think that all middle-easterners are terrorists because of what their parents and fox news has taught them.
So yes in my opinion it should be taught but I don't think it would change the world all that much either way.[/QUOTE]
I know the quality of American textbooks isn't the greatest, but what is this "bunch of lies"?
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;32402729]I know the quality of American textbooks isn't the greatest, but what is this "bunch of lies"?[/QUOTE]
I'm sure it varies from textbook to textbook but in my school our textbooks spend a whole 2 chapters bashing communism making out to seem like its the WORST thing ever and showing Capitalism/Democracy as the BEST damn thing since sliced bread. Painting Christopher Columbus in this great image even though he was just as bad as the other early explorers. When the whole Social Studies department complains about the lies in a textbook you have a slight problem.
[QUOTE=DJWulf;32403062]I'm sure it varies from textbook to textbook but in my school our textbooks spend a whole 2 chapters bashing communism making out to seem like its the WORST thing ever and showing Capitalism/Democracy as the BEST damn thing since sliced bread. Painting Christopher Columbus in this great image even though he was just as bad as the other early explorers. When the whole Social Studies department complains about the lies in a textbook you have a slight problem.[/QUOTE]
To be fair we are pretty fresh out of the cold war. I agree that the bias on communism needs to be toned down. But I think it's gradually coming.
[QUOTE=DJWulf;32403062]I'm sure it varies from textbook to textbook but in my school our textbooks spend a whole 2 chapters bashing communism making out to seem like its the WORST thing ever and showing Capitalism/Democracy as the BEST damn thing since sliced bread. Painting Christopher Columbus in this great image even though he was just as bad as the other early explorers. When the whole Social Studies department complains about the lies in a textbook you have a slight problem.[/QUOTE]
My social studies class spent a good deal of time dealing with how Christopher Columbus harmed the natives, and how the United States unjustly charged people for supporting communism. That is in Arizona, of all places.
I see multiculturalism as more of a celebration of the world's diversity.
My school regularly has multicultural fairs, and the wide variety of things there really fascinates me.
[QUOTE=aydin690;32386406]Multiculturalism is working just fine in Canada.[/QUOTE]
that's because asians are one of the most productive minorities that immigrate
they go into upper-class jobs, such as doctors and lawyers.
The basis of complaints against immigrants in europe is that they are always on welfare and don't bother getting a job, that they're leeching off the country.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;32409965]that's because asians are one of the most productive minorities that immigrate
they go into upper-class jobs, such as doctors and lawyers.
The basis of complaints against immigrants in europe is that they are always on welfare and don't bother getting a job, that they're leeching off the country.[/QUOTE]
I've never once heard a well-substantiated claim of "the immigrants are just leeching off the system for a free ride", it's mostly baseless.
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;32402729]I know the quality of American textbooks isn't the greatest, but what is this "bunch of lies"?[/QUOTE]
Texas textbooks yo
[QUOTE=Lambeth;32410440]Texas textbooks yo[/QUOTE]
Guess it varies from state to state. Here in CA my textbooks seem alright, sans the less-than-fair Red Scare info. One thing I'm quite appreciative of is the unbiased nature of the section on the electoral system.
These are the history/government textbooks, naturally.
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;32410083]I've never once heard a well-substantiated claim of "the immigrants are just leeching off the system for a free ride", it's mostly baseless.[/QUOTE]
well it is obvious for certain ethnic minorities such as the Roma
[QUOTE=Megafanx13;32410960]Guess it varies from state to state. Here in CA my textbooks seem alright, sans the less-than-fair Red Scare info. One thing I'm quite appreciative of is the unbiased nature of the section on the electoral system.
These are the history/government textbooks, naturally.[/QUOTE]
My high school had to buy its own AP biology books, because the state board of education refused to fund it because it didn't teach the alternatives to evolution. Its the same book my university uses now.
AP Environmental Science books usually don't get approved either, because they mention things like global warming, and pollution.
Our History books weren't too bad though.
I think it is kind of needed to be taught since racism is a natural reaction and development. Just like if you were goth and in a crowd of people you never met, you would probably go seek out other goth people since they are like you and you can understand them better as opposed to going out and seeking people who look nothing like you. It is natural to make those distinctions with race as well, so teaching kids while they are forming their social behaviors can at least lessen the effects of that.
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;32412326]well it is obvious for certain ethnic minorities such as the Roma[/QUOTE]
Time to check "anti-gypsy racism" off my bingo card.
Multiculturalism is a good thing. People need to accept that other people have different beliefs, and just because somebody prays five times a day doesn't mean that they're a bad person. It's only a problem if it gets taken to extremes.
The fact is that not all cultures are equal. Try arguing that a caste system is equal to a system with more social mobility. Or that sexism is acceptable.
Certainly many are comparable, and are arguably not worse than others, but ultimately every culture has problems that need to be examined.
[QUOTE=Treybuchet;32417301]Time to check "anti-gypsy racism" off my bingo card.[/QUOTE]
It's actually called Antiziganism
I'm not, I'm just saying that it's obvious why some groups dislike the Roma due to their historical tradition of being persecuted, and their strong resistance to assimilation
[QUOTE=trotskygrad;32418289]It's actually called Antiziganism
I'm not, I'm just saying that it's obvious why some groups dislike the Roma due to their historical tradition of being persecuted, and their strong resistance to assimilation[/QUOTE]
Some groups of people have traits that make it very difficult. The Roma are rather nomadic, in a society that is mainly sedentary. This inevitably causes problems down the line.
I figure they already sort of teach this where I live. It's that or that no one is ignorant enough to think their culture/lifestyle is any better than anyone else's.
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