Utilizing Competency Based Teacher Education as a Means for Facilitating Cultural Pluralism in American Schools.

Overview & Synopsis

Performance based teacher education (PBTE) and multicultural education are emerging as viable and compatible strategies for preparing school personnel. The American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) has provided national leadership in the study and encouragement of PBTE and multicultural education. AACTE faces many problems as it contemplates the future of multicultural or intercultural education. First there is the problem of encouraging people to view diversity as a positive factor in society. Also, there are too many people who refuse to accept, to admit, and/or to include the nature of cultural differences as a way of life. Another problem in implementing such a program is eliminating the present narrow view regarding multicultural education. The concerns of multicultural education are of growing importance to America's society at large, and they should be treated as such. The very nature of PBTE lends itself to enhancing goals of multicultural education. The capabilities of PBTE and multicultural education must be synthesized in a comprehensive program which is applicable both individually and collectively to our multicultural youth. To begin incorporating the ideals and ideas of intercultural education would not only give new (and much needed) direction to American education, but would also enhance America's future. (RC)