Unity in Diversity: Multicultural Education in Australia.

Overview & Synopsis

Papers presented at two institutes held in Australia to discuss multicultural education are presented. Topics discussed include demographic background of Australia, principles of Australian pluralism, problems and issues for teachers making decisions on curriculum, the educational experience of children of migrant origin, the objectives and implementation of multicultural education, a case study of an Aboriginal school, the experience of the Strelley Station school, which has provided a model and inspiration for bilingual education and community involvement, a case study of a school where the children are predominantly Anglo-Saxon, a description of St. John's Greek Orthodox College, key issues raised by a national survey of ethnic schools in Australia 1981-82, implications of multicultural education for teacher education, a national language policy, commonwealth initiatives in multicultural education, educational theories and practices, cultural and linguistic factors affecting the educational achievements of Aboriginals, influences of ethnic community organizations on multicultural education, strategies for the development of a multicultural education curriculum, ethnic and racial prejudice in Australia, and policies and programs for the teaching of languages. A list of participants is included. (RM)