Diversity And Unity In Education

Diversity and Unity in Education

First published in 1980, Diversity and Unity in Education is the result of a conference set up to analyse criteria of diversity in education, comment on the politics of decision-making where diversity exists, and review in comparative perspective policies within countries and regions which have been designed to achieve educational harmony. Issues associated with the provision of separate education on the basis of sex and intelligence are identified and discussed. The extent to which national and local government officials, teachers and parents should, and do, participate in policy decisions is also analysed. International organisations, research workers and consultants will find the volume valuable for the direction it gives to research studies in education. University teachers of comparative education and those involved in multicultural education will find topics on which further research can be developed and postgraduate teaching can be based. The contributors are all distinguished international educationalists who have devoted their careers to the analysis of multicultural education in a world perspective. They are drawn from east and west Europe, North America, Africa and Latin America.

Teaching Democracy

In Teaching Democracy, Walter Parker makes a unique and thoughtful contribution to the hot debate between proponents of multicultural education and those who favor a cultural literacy approach. Parker conclusively demonstrates that educating for democratic citizenship in a multicultural society includes a fundamental respect for diversity. This scholarly yet accessible work: Bridges the widening gap between multicultural education and civic education.Provides powerful teaching strategies that educators can use to draw children creatively and productively into a way of life that protects and nurtures cultural pluralism and racial equity.Explains the unity–diversity confusion that is found in popular media as well as in multicultural– and citizenship–education initiatives.Defines deliberative discussion and explores its promise as the centerpiece of democratic education in schools, both elementary and secondary. “At a moment in time when our connection to the nation seems superficial and jingoistic, Walter Parker offers us a vehicle to reach our ideal of deliberative, committed civic participation for every citizen. This book explores the hard work of citizen-making in a diverse and complex society where individual and group interests often are in conflict. Parker makes us realize that in a democracy ‘public’ is not a dirty word and schooling should not be punishment.” —Gloria Ladson–Billings, University of Wisconsin, Madison “This book deals in an engaging and thought-provoking way with both social realities and democratic possibilities—exactly what I try to do in my classroom.” —Wendy Ewbank, teacher, Seattle Girls’ School

Diversity and Unity in Education