Public Education in a Multicultural Society
Policy, Theory, Critique

This collection of essays deals with philosophical and educational questions about multi-culturalism in primary and secondary schools.

Robert K. Fullinwider (Edited by)

9780521499583, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 January 1996

304 pages
22.7 x 15.1 x 2.3 cm, 0.422 kg

This important collection of essays offers a sustained philosophical examination of fundamental questions raised by multicultural education in primary and secondary schools. The essays focus on both theory and policy. They discuss the relation between culture and identity, the role of reason in bridging cultural divisions, and the civic implications of multi-culturalism in the teaching of history and literature. Several of the essays examine aspects of multicultural policies in California and New York, as well as the curriculum guidelines promulgated by the National Council for Social Studies. Although much has been published on the subject of multi-culturalism, including the cultural war on American campuses, there is very little available on the impact of multicultural policies for primary and secondary education. So this is a volume that will be welcomed by all those interested in multicultural education: philosophers and historians of education, sociologists, professional educators and policy-makers.

Part I. Introduction and Critique: 1. Multicultural education: concepts, policies and controversies ROBERT K. FULLINWIDER
2. Antiracist civic education in the California history-social science framework LAWRENCE A. BLUM
3. A conflict of visions: multiculturalism and the social studies GILBERT T. SEWALL
Part II. Culture and Identity: 4. Culture, subculture, multiculturalism: education options K. ANTHONY APPIAH
5. Multiculturalism and mélange JEREMY WALDRON
Part III. Relativism, reason, and public education: 6. Locke and multiculturalism: toleration, relativism, and reason SUSAN KHIN ZAW
7. Challenges of multiculturalism in democratic education AMY GUTMANN
Part IV. Teaching History: 8. Multiculturalism and history: historical perspectives and present prospects GARY B. NASH
9. Patriotic history ROBERT K. FULLINWIDER
Part V. Teaching Literature: 10. Multicultural literature and civic education: a problematic relationship with possibilities SANDRA STOTSKY
11. Teaching American literary history ARTHUR EVENCHIK.

Subject Areas: Ethics & moral philosophy [HPQ]