Imagine

"Imagine"

by John Lennon

Imagine there's no heaven

It's easy if you try

No hell below us

Above us only sky

Imagine all the people

Living for today...

Imagine there's no countries

It isn't hard to do

Nothing to kill or die for

And no religion too

Imagine all the people

Living life in peace...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions

I wonder if you can

No need for greed or hunger

A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people

Sharing all the world...

You may say I'm a dreamer

But I'm not the only one

I hope someday you'll join us

And the world will live as one

I've chosen this song because it promotes a message of unity. We all live on this earth together, and while we have differences on the outside, we are all still human beings. We should strive to live together in peace and accept that our differences are what make us human. There is so much cultural turmoil in the world, and it's so important for us to promote cultural acceptance and tolerance so we can grow as a race and as individuals. 

What other significant insight(s) have you gained and how will this insight impact your personal/professional life?

This course has helped me understand the importance of multicultural education. Diversity is one of the most important aspects of a successful classroom. I do not believe that students can reach their full academic potential without being in a positively accepting and diverse atmosphere. They need to understand the fact that it is okay to be different, and it is our job as teachers to help them understand that. I want to create a safe learning environment in my future classroom. I want my students to feel accepted and like they fit in. I also want them to be able to celebrate their cultural differences and be proud of where they come from. I already strive to be more culturally aware. I want to teach my students about the importance of cultural awareness so that they can be successful in our diverse world.

How can multicultural education affect broader social issues that impact our society? (e.g. intercultural communication/relations, prejudice, stereotypes, crime & poverty rates, achievement gaps, etc.)

The purpose of multicultural education is to create cultural awareness and acceptance and teach students that it's okay to be different; in fact, we ought to celebrate our differences. It helps to eliminate, or at the very least reduce, prejudices and racism and create a safer and more diverse world. Students who are taught in a multicultural environment enter the world with open eyes and are able to better understand the differences between cultures. They are able to react better when they come across cultural hate, and can spread the idea of cultural awareness themselves. When we understand cultural differences, we are better able to communicate with one another and achieve more. We can strive towards eliminating poverty among certain ethnic groups. We can increase productivity in the classroom (and in the working world). We can reduce achievement gaps by teaching in ways that all of our students can understand, no matter where they come from. We can eliminate stereotyping and prejudices among our students. We are molding the minds of students who have the potential to further unite the world in its goals, so it's incredibly important to teach them to be culturally aware and accepting. 

How does multicultural education reflect responsive teaching to help meet the academic needs of diverse student populations?

Multicultural education helps to teach ideals of cultural awareness in a student population. When a teacher successfully implements a policy of multicultural education in their classroom, they are creating an environment where students feel safe and accepted. A multicultural and diverse learning environment strives to eliminate prejudice and inequality, which are two things that negatively affect a student's ability to learn. It creates a more positive atmosphere within the classroom. A safe and positive learning environment helps to encourage learning and yields positive results because students are able to focus on school and aren't worried about fitting in with their peers. A teacher who is culturally aware themselves is able to better reach their students because he or she is able to teach in a way that is understood by all, and they are aware of the different needs of each of their students. They understand how to teach without offending any students and so that the cultural learning norms of different children are met. 

What is multicultural education? What are the goals of multicultural education?

Multicultural education is teaching in a way that is accepted by and benefits all groups of students, instead of focusing on just one group. It helps to emphasize the benefits of different cultural and ethnic backgrounds. Some of the goals of multicultural education include creating a safe, culturally aware learning environment for students of all cultural groups by promoting acceptance and reducing, if not eliminating, prejudice and inequality. These goals, though they sound simple on paper, can be very difficult to achieve. Students come from many different backgrounds, including backgrounds that aren’t as accepting of other cultures as others. It can be difficult to eliminate prejudices that have been taught since a very young age. It’s important for teachers to promote an open mindset in their own classroom. It’s also important for teachers to be culturally aware of their students so that when they teach they don’t risk offending any students. I believe the most effective way to reach the goals of multicultural education is to be an example to students. By living these goals, teachers show students the benefits of having a diverse classroom and being culturally aware.

What is culture and what are some major aspects of culture?

Culture is the characteristics of a society or group of people. It includes traditions, beliefs, language, social structure, and social behaviors found within the society that set apart its members from members of other societies. Every country has unique societal mannerisms to them, and a different means of functioning based on those mannerisms. There are several major aspects to culture. These include social organization, religion, system of government, language, and economic system. Each of these contribute to what makes a society different.  In a country with a melting pot mentality such as America, different cultures often get lost, especially in schools and in the workplace, in an attempt to fit in. The world we live in today is interconnected and interdependent, and it’s important for students to be prepared to live in such a world. It is the responsibility of teachers to prepare their students to live in a world where so many different cultures interact. It’s also the responsibility of the teacher to be aware of their students’ cultural backgrounds, so to prevent offense and encourage diversity.

Haley Smith Learning Journey

Learning Journey Timeline

EDU230 Cultural Diversity in Education

Mesa Community College