Hot Topic! Single-Group Studies

After reading about multicultural education this week, I found myself wanting to know more about single-group studies and how they are incorporated into school systems.

I want to know what a single-group study consists of, and if it is actually beneficial to students.

"According to Banks and Banks (2004) single group studies approach seeks to raise the social status of the target group by helping young people examine how the group has been oppressed historically and what its capabilities and achievements have been." To me, this means teaching students about significant figures in different cultures and how their actions effected that culture. Students are taught about one specific cultural group at a time, learning about their cultural attributes as well as how they affected American culture.
Multicultural Education

I came across an article that discussed reasons behind multicultural education approaches and the basics behind each one. They are all based upon developing a new curriculum for students in order for them to gain knowledge of different cultures and how to work together despite cultural differences. This article brought to light critics thoughts of multicultural education, some believe that in teaching students about individual cultures, one is only pointing out the differences between them, not encouraging society as a whole. This article goes on to discuss the authors work with a teacher in a New Jersey school on a multicultural studies course. The school in which this course was being developed happened to contain a population of 95 percent white, christian, middle class students. The goals of the teacher were to introduce cultural diversity and its importance in the world today, as well as provide awareness of today's social issues.

Students were asked to work with people that they would otherwise never interact with in after school programs. The students did not take the activity seriously, and even joked about the work they were asked to do.
Reflections on Multicultural Education: A Teacher's Experience

I was disgusted by the students reaction to the activity they were asked to participate in within this article as well as the opinions of those who disagree with multicultural education. Although this type of teaching does point out differences between cultures, I do not believe it does so in a negative way. I feel it provides insight for those who would otherwise never be exposed to the inner workings of other cultures. As teachers, we have to push the boundaries of comfort for our students that will only be pushed in a real world environment. Preparing them for life after school includes exposing them to different peoples and cultures.