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Transforming the Classroom into a Multicultural World

6-year-old Amy thinks it strange that her classmate Priya uses her fingers to eat her food. Amy often teases Priya about this, which leads to Priya feeling ashamed about how she eats her food. However, as the child of first generation Indian immigrants, using one’s fingers is a natural and acceptable way of eating in Priya’s household. What might Amy learn if she is taught to put herself in Priya’s shoes?

• Do Indians use forks, knives or spoons to eat their food?
• Are all Indian foods eaten with hands?
• Do they wash their hands before and after eating?
• Do Indians find special joy in eating with their hands?

This knowledge of another culture with distinct habits, values, etiquettes and behaviours is becoming increasingly relevant because first migration, and then technology, has effectively shrunk the world.  This means that more and more children, as they grow up, will be exposed to an environment that is dynamic and challenging. As adults they will be expected to interact with people from diverse backgrounds. If they are going to find their feet, multicultural education should become a central part of their childhood.

Understanding Cultural Nuances

While teachers are keen to impart a multicultural education to the toddlers in their charge, they should also be aware that ethnic practices can be diverse even within the same group. Lack of detailed cultural information can lead teachers to encouraging practices that may undermine or create a conflict with what is being taught at homes. For instance, in Middle Eastern countries, very young children are instilled with a sense of discipline and politeness that prevents them from arguing with elders or speaking their minds too frankly. However, if such a child is taught to voice their opinions too freely in the classroom and carries that behavior home, what then is going to be the reaction of the immigrant mother? This dilemma is easily solved by getting the parents involved.

Reaching Out to the Family Unit

It may seem a daunting task to meet with each child’s family, but it is well worth the effort for any teacher committed to a multicultural classroom. The ultimate goal of this venture is to encourage family participation and exploration within home and community. Parents are more often than not keen to be involved and explain their cultural point of view. They are also interested in helping their child absorb the culture in which he/she is currently growing up. When interacting with parents, discuss the cultural differences that you have personally noticed without appearing critical of it. Make a genuine effort to understand the country and the ethos that the parents come from. Moreover, try and observe the parent’s interaction with the child to understand the family dynamics.

Despite our best intentions, there are situations where teachers and parents may not necessarily agree on certain cultural practices. In such cases, exercise high amounts of cultural sensitivity by being open, accepting and respectful. Ultimately, it is this sensitivity that children will apply in their interactions with their peers.

Learning to Love the Differences

Children are constantly developing their sense of self in relation to others through their communication. This means that if a child is laughed at for looking a particular way, or eating a particular food, or even wearing certain types of dresses, their sense of self tends to suffer. The most basic way to avoid this is by helping children identify and love their differences. Teachers are particularly positioned to make this possible because of the amount of time they spend with children, and also because of the nature of their interaction.

Children form their own impressions about the world around them through a variety of media and resources. So, a key tactic is to guide them to the right resources. Introduce them to books that have ethnically different characters and situations. Make them familiar with cultural art using aids such as paintings, music, wall hangings etc. Provide a neutral environment in the classroom where children can safely share their cultural stories through food, drawing, experiences etc. Encourage discussion and handle questions in a calm manner.

 Multicultural learning can become as natural and intrinsic as learning a new language if it is implemented correctly. It is important to provide a stressful and unbiased environment for multicultural curiosity to take place. This curiosity should further be aided by discussions and other valuable resources. The more children are accepting of their own backgrounds, the more accepting they can be of newer cultures.

Article written by Annie Besant  whom is a multicultural writer who believes the world can be a happier place if we would all just learn to get along. She believes that learning takes place at a very young age and can be accomplished by committed teachers and parents.