Multicultural Education

The need for dealing constructively with cultural diversity is rapidly becoming a central issue in education. Sociocultural heterogeneity continues to grow because of three factors: 1) changes in the organization of the world economy, triggering mass migration trends, 2) the expansion of transportation and communication systems, greatly facilitating the movement of people and information, and, 3) the worldwide attention given to human rights, resulting in the organization of a myriad of culture-specific interest groups.

None of these factors is likely to disappear in the near future and cultural differences seem destined to play an ever-increasing role in intergroup conflict. Thus, the need for educational strategies enhancing intercultural understanding is increasingly urgent. This session will highlight various approaches to "multicultural education" as it specifically applies to ethnic diversity. In particular, speakers will describe anthropologically-inspired pedagogical models that can be applied for the training of teachers operating in ethnically heterogeneous societies.

This session involved panelists' responses to a keynote speaker, as well as separate presentations by them.

CLARKE-EKONG, Sheilah, (University of Missouri-St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63121 USA)
ANTHROPOLOGY'S INTERDISCIPLINARY POTENTIAL: AN EMERGING REALITY.