The Intersection of Cultures

Book excerpt: The Intersection of Cultures: Multicultural Education in the United States and the Global Economy, Fourth Edition offers a unique, problem-solving approach to the complex issues involved in educating culturally and linguistically diverse students. Perfect for any course devoted wholly or in part to the study of multicultural education, this text addresses a wealth of topics. A particular focus in this edition is the current global migration of peoples, and the tension between local and global cultures. Part One, Multiculturalism, includes chapters on cultural differences and schooling, dominated cultures, and immigrant cultures. Chapters in Part Two, Cultural Frames of Reference, address monoculturalism, biculturalism, and ethnic identity; multicultural minds; history, gender, and social class; and the intersection of school culture with dominated and immigrant cultures. Part Three, Perspectives on Teaching Multicultural Education, includes chapters on teaching about racism; teaching about sexism; and teaching to protect and preserve cultures. All chapters include model multicultural lessons for elementary through college classes. These lessons serve a dual function—first, they can be used to help teach the content of the chapter, and second, elementary, middle school, and high school teachers can use these lessons in their own classes. Each chapter concludes with a “Personal Frames of References” section designed to engage students in relating multiculturalism to their own lives. New in the Fourth Edition: *cultural differences in ways of seeing, knowing, and interrelating with the world; *recent research findings from cross cultural psychology and the psychology of immigration; and *methods for educating “multicultural minds”.