Multicultural Education Issues in Urban Schools By Bill Breitspecher Urban Education, 716 UW-Milwaukee Fall 2007

Learning is More Than: Course content Classroom experience Test scores Final grades

Course content

Classroom experience

Test scores

Final grades

Learning Is: Actively constructed Developed on experience Creating & recreating ideas

Actively constructed

Developed on experience

Creating & recreating ideas

Contradiction in Schools Transmitted by teachers, yet actively constructed by students Distrust teachers & students can construct meaning “ Teaching basics” under-serves students, assumes they can’t do more Severe with high concentrations of poverty, non-majority students

Transmitted by teachers, yet actively constructed by students

Distrust teachers & students can construct meaning

“ Teaching basics” under-serves students, assumes they can’t do more

Severe with high concentrations of poverty, non-majority students

Cultural Capital Experiences give advantages in learning Schools serve some students Fail to recognize experiences of other students

Experiences give advantages in learning

Schools serve some students

Fail to recognize experiences of other students

Teachers Need To: Build on what students have Not lament what students don’t have Not penalize students Realize all students can learn

Build on what students have

Not lament what students don’t have

Not penalize students

Realize all students can learn

Cultural Differences Influence learning Constantly change Are not barriers to learning Are opportunities to reach out

Influence learning

Constantly change

Are not barriers to learning

Are opportunities to reach out

Context of Learning Social, political, economic factors influence learning Affect teacher perceptions What & how teachers teach

Social, political, economic factors influence learning

Affect teacher perceptions

What & how teachers teach

Cultural Sensitivity Negative messages devalue some, often non-majority students Difficult to identify with school Students de-emphasize school achievement, protect self-esteem

Negative messages devalue some, often non-majority students

Difficult to identify with school

Students de-emphasize school achievement, protect self-esteem

Zone of Proximal Development Schools must make learning accessible to students Teacher’s actions influence whether and to what extent students learn All children learn given opportunities for appropriate interactions

Schools must make learning accessible to students

Teacher’s actions influence whether and to what extent students learn

All children learn given opportunities for appropriate interactions

Inequities in Schools Intentional or unintentional, doesn’t matter Results are same Students respond to high expectations, caring, respect

Intentional or unintentional, doesn’t matter

Results are same

Students respond to high expectations, caring, respect

Culture & Learning Student identification, maintenance of native culture is good Teacher is cultural accommodator, mediator Focus on differences in isolation of broader context does not increase learning

Student identification, maintenance of native culture is good

Teacher is cultural accommodator, mediator

Focus on differences in isolation of broader context does not increase learning

Transforming Teachers Learn about students Identify with them Build on strengths Challenge displays of privilege, inherent biases

Learn about students

Identify with them

Build on strengths

Challenge displays of privilege, inherent biases

School Reform Anti-racist, anti-bias All students have talents, strengths Those close to students must be meaningfully involved High expectations & standards Empowering & just

Anti-racist, anti-bias

All students have talents, strengths

Those close to students must be meaningfully involved

High expectations & standards

Empowering & just

Multicultural Education Framework for rethinking schools Recognize all students as capable, worthy Give hope, affirmation

Framework for rethinking schools

Recognize all students as capable, worthy

Give hope, affirmation