Argues for an acknowledgement of the rise in Euroracism, a combination of postcolonial racism, antisemitism, and fascism. Discusses the role of initial teacher education in combatting forms of inequality. Rejects nationalistic and multicultural approaches in favor of an empowering curriculum. Concludes that interconnections between all forms of…

Becoming an anthropologist illustrates on a large scale how valuable examining other cultures is. Anthropology should be incorporated into the college liberal arts curriculum to help eliminate the ethnocentrism of educated people in our own society but should focus on great civilizations nearly matching ours in complexity, historical depth, and…

Finds the commentaries of U.S. critics on the works of Chinua Achebe and other African writers ethnocentric, misinformed, and devoid of cogent analysis. Advocates a microscopic sociocultural contextualization of the works, emphasizing the nuances, history, and specifications of the African milieu. Discusses Achebe's special place in reading lists…

Urges that history be based on sound historical scholarship. Suggests that the most important key to good history is provided by well-trained history teachers who understand the dynamic nature of historical inquiry and help students develop a critical perspective of the past. Recognizes that women and minorities have been significant actors in…

Discusses teaching sociology with the concept of ritual. Explains that students write descriptions of a family ritual that may be discussed and compared in class. Suggests that studying ritual in everyday life may reduce ethnocentrism in viewing those of other cultures and can be a tool to support the importance of the family. (DK)

Explores prospects for self-government for the Native peoples of Canada. Reviews the historical background of the Native community's loss of political autonomy. Explains how missionary efforts and the ethnocentric views of Europeans disrupted the community's culture and individual families. Identifies education as the key to effective self-rule in…

Discusses the problem of ethnocentrism in the educational system of the United States. Suggests that knowledge needs to be redefined to reflect a multicultural view of the world rather than reflecting an "us against them" outlook. Argues that the humanities need to be decentered so that minority students are not alienated. (DK)

This document traces the history of and need for global education. The paper examines a crucial connection between global education and critical thinking. Students cannot acquire a global perspective without developing critical thinking skills. Similarly, they cannot be considered critical thinkers without a global perspective. With the end of the…

Argues that the first step in reassessing whether the values brought to the Americas by Christopher Columbus are desirable is to examine and dispel the myths surrounding Columbus and his deeds. Includes myths involving the purpose, financing, and manning of the voyage, and Columbus's own beliefs and fate. Suggests sources for locating accurate…

Noting that most basic communication textbooks do not include a cultural diversity component, this paper presents 14 experiential exercises aimed to integrate the multicultural issues related to interpersonal communication topics. The various experiential activities are adapted from intercultural communication textbooks, cross-cultural training…

The study of geography and culture are both essential to development of global awareness and multicultural perspective. The two can be integrated in secondary school instruction, with the result of enhancing each. Cross-disciplinary strategies and activities can be adapted to any course with a cultural component, including second language…

Language learning is a form of cultural learning, and cultural learning embraces language learning. The goal of cultural learning is a continuing search for understanding that bridges cultures. Language can be a bridge, a system that constructs reality as it communicates about reality. Education in the U.S. has tended to define culture as American…

Two major efforts to redirect the school curriculum that are currently of special concern, not only to educators but to the general citizenry as well, are citizenship education and international or global education. Both deal with the development of competent and responsible citizens whose perspectives, knowledge, and skills will enable them to…

Surveys U.S. history texts to determine the coverage given to eastern European immigrants. Reports that Poland is most extensively covered and that the amount of coverage of other eastern European peoples increases with Polish coverage. Suggests a correlation between the frequency an ethnic group is cited and the size of its population in the…

Compares multicultural, ethnocentric, and Eurocentric curricula. Describes California's multicultural history/social studies framework for high school; multicultural/multiethnic education in Portland, Oregon; and study results regarding New York State's K-12 social studies curriculum. Presents the Archdiocese of New York's efforts to emphasize…