Values of Multicultural/Diverse Perspective Instruction

Multicultural/diverse perspective instruction prepares all students to live in our pluralistic world and at the same time provides them with solid academic benefits.

Broadens Students' Views

In schools today, students are rarely given the opportunity to view concepts, events, and issues from more than one perspective, and this perspective is usuallythat of the mainstream group. As a result, students gain only a limited view of the world. When the world is viewed from more than one perspective, students' views are broadened and they gain insight into their own behavior (Banks, 1989).

Builds Self-Esteem

Studies indicate that there is a direct link between the way students see themselves in the classroom and the way they perform (Rosenthal & Jacobson, 1968). In a multicultural classroom, teachers support their students through the elimination of labeling and through the heightened appreciation of student achievement. A curriculum that prepares students to live in a pluralistic world is particularly beneficial, because such a curriculum enhances individual self-esteem by helping members of various racial and ethnic groups to retain and value their cultural identity (Grant, 1974).

Improves Academic Performance

Classroom experience shows that multicultural/diverse perspective instruction helps students develop problem-solving and higher-order thinking skills. As students learn that there is more than one "right" way to look at an occurrence, more than one valid point of view, more than one appropriate cultural practice, they are also learning to analyze, evaluate, and make judgments.

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