What works and what doesn't ?

The word multicultural education is defined by Julia Scherba, as "a process of comprehensive school reform and basic education for all students. It challenges and rejects racism and other forms of discrimination in schools and society and accepts and affirms the pluralism (ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious, economic, and gender, among others) that students, their communities, and teachers represent." So the question I pose today is which methods of multicultural education actually work in the classroom, and which don't?

Being a "good" teacher involves engaging each student equally, without gender bias' or discrimination against any race in the classroom. The trouble in solving this is that teachers tend to create a bias or stereotype unconsciously or without knowing. The majority of instructors don't intend to not include boys or girls in a certain lesson, however, when they are planning they might forget to take this into consideration, leaving one gender to be left out. So, the obstacle we face here is how to stop this? How to design a classroom that student and teacher alike have no bias against one another, where each member of the class treats each other equally and as individuals, and most importantly make sure gifted or foreign students receive the attention they deserve.

To begin this discussion we will start with what doesn't work.
1.) Racism and prejudice DO NOT work in the classroom! There is no place within a school building that it is appropriate to be racist or prejudice. As a teacher going into this profession you must be aware that you are going to be working with a diverse group of children. If you do not have an equal respect for all beings than you have no place being in a classroom or being a teacher!

2.) Being uneducated about other cultures does not work in the class room! As I said before there is going to be a diverse group of children in and out of your classrooms through the years. In order to better connect, understand, and teach a foreign student you must be aware of their culture as well. It is important to research where an immigrant student is from so that you do not offend them or their native culture.

3.) Having high or low expectations does not work in the class room ! Having high or low expectations of student only makes learning for a child harder. "Students must believe that they can achieve before they will risk trying, and young people are astute at sensing whether their teachers believe they can succeed."
http://www.ascd.org/publications/books/107003/chapters/Educating-Everybody's-Children@-We-Know-What-Works—And-What-Doesn't.aspx

Although there are many other practices that counteract the task of multicultural education, there are some methods we found that I believe do work!

1.) Promoting parents to be more involved works! If the school and parents have a better relationship this will most definitely better the child. Students often work hard in school to impress their parents, and parents are their to help their children. If the parent is on the same page as the teacher it will increase the students involvement as well! Schools are now beginning to offer more pamphlets in different languages, translators, and even bilingual classes in order to benefit other cultures too.

2.)Teaching students about one another's culture! I think teaching a child that everyone is different and that this is a good thing is one of the most important lessons they will ever learn. It is crucial that a child understand why someone else is different, and how they're life may be. Young children have to learn the fundamentals of equality, sharing, and openness.

3.) The most efficient method I find is establishing a bond with and amongst your students. It is important to get to know your students so that you can start to form a relationship with you. If you provide a comfortable, welcoming environment to the children, and speak in a respectful tone, this will ensure that you and the students will bond. It is crucial that each student feels welcome, engaged, and important and through establishing a bond this can happen.

Multicultural education is a work in progress today, that teachers hope to expand and make more efficient. I hope that one day each child that enters a school building will feel welcome, safe, and secure. As a teacher I plan on incorporating multicultural education and all the things I have learned concerning this topic to ensure that my students will all feel equal. I think that this is one of the most important, overlooked topic within schools that needs to be assessed not only now, but throughout the years.

Private Vs. Public Schools 

The question I pose this week is wether students receive a better education from private schools or public schools? Most everyone would guess that private schools are more efficient; more money to buy books, supplies, and to keep the school up to date. Private schools often advertise better sports teams, clubs, extracurricular activities and the opportunity to be accepted into more elite colleges. Private schools often use the method of uniforms. The use of uniform is to make sure each student is viewed as equals and no one has nicer clothes than anyone else. Also this is a cleaner, more uniform look. But is the bonus of extra money and better supplies really affecting the children's education?

At first glance public schools are thought to have poor quality books, supplies, and buildings.  Most people believe public schools to have lower budget and therefore less qualified teachers than private schools. But after doing research I found that these stereotypes we all know to be true, in actuality they are not. In the article Private vs. Public schools, I found some intriguing evidence according to the CEP;
"When the report's authors compared students of similar socioeconomic status at private, public and parochial high schools, they found that:

• Achievement scores on reading, math, science and history were the same;
• Students were equally likely to attend college whether they had graduated from a public or private school;
• Young adults at age 26 were equally likely to report being satisfied with their jobs whether they had graduated from a public or private school;
• Young adults at age 26 were equally likely to engage in civic activity whether they had graduated from a public or private school."

 Reading this made me wonder if this evidence was true, but as I began to do more research, the NY Times concluded this for me."United States Education Department released a controversial and long-awaited report comparing public and private schools in terms of student achievement as measured on the federal math and reading tests known as the National Assessment of Educational Progress. As with previous studies, this one debunked the widely held belief that public schools were inferior to their private and religious counterparts."(http://www.nytimes.com)

This quote, as well as this article, proved to me that there was no difference between private and public schools.

Having gone to both public and private schools I discovered first hand that I did not like parochial schools, wearing uniform, or having to travel to go to school. I too, concluded that I felt just as comfortable and educated in public schools as I did in private schools. I felt as though uniforms took away my individuality and creative aspect of myself. Also, I concluded that I learned more in public school because private schools do not need to follow the states curriculum, the teachers taught less and were not as worried about meeting a deadline. The last aspect that forced me to resign from my parochial school was the people, because of the cost of the school more wealthy and upper class students attended the school. I found that these kids were snobby and not my kind of people. I feel much more comfortable in a public school and knowing that the education you receive from both public and private schools is equal.

Is it all It's Cracked up to be?

It has been debated for years whether going to college to become a teacher really pays off in the end, or are teachers left in debt more often than not? The job does have considerably low pay compared to other professions, but does this out weigh good benefits, great hours and the possibility to receive tenure after three years. So the question I pose is, is it all it's cracked up to be?


People normally tend to teach because there will never not be a demand in the feild for teachers. In other words there is always going to be a steady stream of clients; "No matter what the economy, there are always children to be educated."
http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/19/teaching-no-fallback-career/
 But is teaching a good or bad career choice?

It is important to know exactly what teaching entails. It is a common career that is dropped after a few years by most people. The job of teaching is not an easy one, but you never know how good you will be until you work in your feild. However, if it something you're good at the job is very reawarding.
Through my research I found that teaching can be a stable career depending if you manage your school loans right and get everything you need to become a teacher accomplished. It requres alot of schooling, testing, and hardwork but if it is something you're cut out to do, you will love your career choice. The job of teaching does offer great hours, vacations, retirement plans, and the oppurtunity to aqcuire more income during the summer. If you are dedicated, passionate, creative and qualified than teaching is a perfect career for you! It may not offer the best pay, but if teaching is something your passionate about you will find that your job makes you happy, which is priceless.
http://suite101.com/article/is-teaching-a-good-career-choice-a287759
My research makes me think that there is risk involved with becoming a teacher, but as long as I feel as dedicated and positive going into my career choice I know it will be okay. So to answer my question, yes, teaching is all it is cracked up to be and then some. I beleive people should choose to teach strictly based on there love for the career. If there is no drive in a person to teach than they are not going to be a good teacher.  The satisfaction of "planting a seed of knowledge that will grow forever" is enough to get me through my future in the education field.

This is a picture of my sister and I on our trip this summer to Bermuda!

Hi! I am Makenzie Calef, an aspiring teacher and student in Education: The Premise of School.  I’m interested in teaching because I feel as though I still have the imagination, creativity, and sense of humor as an elementary school child. I love to help people learn new things and to grow as a human being.I currently babysit for two young boys ages 8 and 12, who are both awesome! I am a 19 year old transfer student at Salem State University. Click here to check it out