Multicultural/Multiethnic Education in Portland Public Schools.

Overview & Synopsis

This document has been written to provide a consistent definition of multicultural/multiethnic education for the Portland (Oregon) Public Schools and to share the goals and expectations of students and staff in the Portland schools. Multicultural/multiethnic education is defined as education that, by virtue of specific content, perspectives, and a structured process, prepares students to live, learn, and work in a pluralistic world. It fosters appreciation, respect, and tolerance for people of different ethnic and cultural backgrounds. The Portland Public Schools use six geocultural groupings: African, American Indian, Asian, European, Hispanic, and Pacific Islander. Satisfactory infusion of multicultural/multiethnic education will result in students who understand that individuals from each of the six geocultural groups have made, and continue to make, significant contributions to the world. Eight general geocultural goals are defined for teacher inservice outcomes, and five multicultural/multiethnic goals are defined for teachers, administrators, and staff. An appendix lists specific goals for African Americans, with some resources that support the African American component of multicultural education. (SLD)