The General Impacts of Multicultural Education in the United States and Canada

The General Impacts of Multicultural Education in the United States and Canada

Introduction

This paper discusses the general impacts of multicultural education in the United States and Canada. The concept of multicultural education has greatly benefited the two countries. The demand for government funding in multicultural education increase over a period of time in order to support diverse communities.

Concept of multicultural education

The methodology of exchanging ideas and culture around the world can be regarded as multicultural education. Chamberlin (2008) states that multicultural education may mean different things to different people (Gorski, 2000), and it is associated with terms such as equal opportunity, pluralism in ethnicity and cultures, and a respect for differences (p.89). Multicultural education has been in existence for many years and that has many students around the world to study in United States and Canada in order to learn new technology and western cultures. Many of the foreign students of immigrant brought their own ideology, religion, and culture to western nations and the tolerance of the people in the United States and Canada has created a diverse society.  

Benefits of multicultural education in nation building

            The benefit of multicultural education in United States and Canada is enormous because it has helped the society to communicate very well and the people can tolerate each other’s religion and culture. Kumi-yeboak et al (2011), states that multicultural education is the teaching and learning of the histories and cultures of all students in the learning process in any educational system (p.10). Multicultural education has given students in high schools and colleges in the united state and Canada the opportunity to learn cultures of different countries. Diversity inclusion has greatly helped in nation building, people of other nations around the world has been hired to work in military, healthcare, banking, manufacturing and entertainment.  Young and Graham (1998) agreed that a multicultural curriculum is one which seeks to challenge hierarchical and oppressive relations among people who belong to different social groups (p.401). Lack of knowledge of different cultures around the world has resulted in discrimination and intimidation. The public needs to be educated about cultural differences and needs to respect each other.

The Demand for Government Funding of Multicultural Education

The increase of inflow of immigrants from around the world that includes Honduras, China, Iran, and Iraq, to united states and Canada has greatly increased government  funding to provide learning English language classes, welfare, housing and feeding. Turner-Vorbeck (2013), states that the teachers’ education programs include a focus on traditional diverse topics such as race, gender, culture and language issues (p.25). It is very crucial to train teachers in areas of diversity inclusion and development of school curriculum that will support diversity in schools. The training of teachers and hiring new teachers to school systems will definitely increase education budget and government has the moral and ethical obligation to educate their citizens from tender ages to high schools.

Conclusion

The impact of multicultural education in the United States and Canada has been positive in the society. This paper has greatly discussed concept of multicultural education, benefit of multicultural education in nation building and increase in demand for government funding of multicultural education.