The Relationship between Multicultural and Bilingual Education.

Overview & Synopsis

The emergence of multicultural education as a national priority is discussed and its links with the bilingual education movement are examined, drawing on a variety of written sources. It is proposed that the push for multicultural curricula reflects a broader agenda than ethnic pride and consciousness-raising, and is an extension of the campaign for bilingual education in the face of dwindling evidence that bilingual education is effective. One of the dilemmas of multicultural education can be seen by the fact that negative characterizations or the absence of positive references to certain minorities can have a damaging effect on the psyche. The central dilemma of what is termed "multicultural" education is that: every culture has both positive and not so positive aspects. Treatment of cultures is seen as uneven in both the instructional materials being created and in public treatment of these issues. (MSE)