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A few events that shaped multicultural education in the U.S.
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Learning Disabilties distinction and Learning Disabilities Association of America
The first use of the term "learning disability" by Samuel A Kirk. In the future, almost half of students with IEP's in schools are identified as having a specific learning disability. This recognizes that not all children learn the same way and students deserve the individual support in school to be successful. -
The Civil Rights Act
This document bars discrimination across the board. From parks, schools, workplace, stores, movie theaters, courts, and any other public space, it is against the law to take actions that keep people out or limit their access based on race, color, religion, national origin, or sex. Theoretically, this means different groups can all participate within the dominant culture including in education and eventually with voting rights. -
Project Head Start
This program is designed and implemented for low-income children to provide them with quality and early interventions. This shaped multicultural education by recognizing that low-income students need support prior to kindergarten to "level the playing field" with their middle and high-income peers. The ultimate goal is more success in school will lead to more success in the workplace and decrease the chances of the student raising a family in poverty in their future. -
"The Science of Learning"
Jean Piaget's book was published and began the conversation of cognitive development in children. Piaget's work supports a multicultural education because it introduced the idea that youth do not learn and process in the same way as adults. -
Title IX
It is in violation of the amendment to discriminate based on biological sex in the education arena. Theoretically, women are going to school and are going to participate in academic and extracurricular activities whether the dominant culture likes it our not. -
Board of Education v. Pico
The argument was against the boards action to remove material from the libraries that they were offered by. In the end, the dominant culture, the school board members, were not allowed to restrict student access to content that went against the board members' values. The decision gives support to multicultural education where other groups can participate in the dominant culture. -
Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act
This law includes stricter punishment for undocumented individuals, and immigrants who commit crimes, parameters for deportation, but also extends to college students residency status. A student could not attend a junior college or university and be recognized as in-state if they were undocumented. This creates an increased price tag on tuition and fees and reduces an entire group of people from higher education. -
No Child Left Behind Act
The act creates several rules for public schools, such as school report cards based on high-stakes tests, it encourages the movement of charter schools, and begins the language of school choice. The title of the act is the opposite effect it had in education and multicultural education. High-stakes test, which are commonly noted to be riddled with dominant culture language and experiences are biased. Schools are expected to produce proficient test takers with no funding or support. -
Betsy DeVos to Secretary of Education
The appointment of Betsy DeVos to Secretary of Education hinders the pursuit of multicultural education. DeVos's support for school vouchers encourages white-flight or affluent-flight and leaves neighborhood schools to pay the price. The reality of sustainable, quality, public education for all children into the future is questionable at best. Schools must compete with one another and that competition for enrollment becomes the focus. Corporate tactics should not be used in education. -
March for Our Lives
In response to the active shooter drills and protocols that are now a routine part of safety on school campus; young people marched on Washington. Despite the large number of youth marching and asking for law reform in regards to firearms; their voices are ignored by the dominant culture and little change occurs. Youth are left to bare the burden of lawmakers lack of action and responsibility.
