Cultural Diversity In America

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Pages: 5

The United States is often referred as the country of immigrants by many. However, when people immigrate, they also bring their unique behavioral patterns, views, cultures, values, and language to the United States with them. Thus, America is well-known for being a “melting pot” filled with many different diverse ethnic groups (Snowman, McCown, 2012, p. 94). Moreover, America is becoming even more culturally diverse because of changes in immigration and birthrates (Snowman, McCown, 2012, p. 94). The 2006 data suggests, there were 52 births per 1,000 with native-born women. On the other hand, there were 70.8 births per 1,000 with foreign-born women (Snowman, McCown, 2012, p. 94). What these findings indicate is that the classroom will be even more culturally diverse and there will be a need of various multicultural approaches to teaching in the class (Snowman, McCown, 2012, p.95). The accomplishment of schools and teachers relies upon the understanding that welcomes cultural, racial, and attitudinal differences (Afolayan, 1994, p. 2).
Next, the cultural diversity has become such an important issue in American education because of the diverse population of students and teachers. Diverse students and teachers have their own cultures and cultures help them
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Students do not comprehend a global interpretation of the role of ethnic and cultural groups in the U.S. society. Instead, they see ethnic problems as an addition to the curriculum. Teaching through heroes, holidays, and contributions tend to gloss over important issues such as victimization and domination of ethnic groups and their hardships against racism and for power (Banks, 1988, p. 1).” The second approach is criticized for “resulting in the viewing of ethnic content from the point of view of ordinary historians, writers, and artists (Bans, 1988, p. 2).” These are some of the criticisms of James Banks’