A Call for Change in Multicultural Training at Graduate Schools of Education: Educating to End Oppression and for Social Justice

TLDR

Multicultural training must be revised to address linguistic diversity, immigration, sexual orientation, disability, and spirituality. The article urges graduate schools of education to overhaul multicultural training so that future educators are equipped to serve a diverse society and to commit to ending oppression and promoting social justice. Graduate schools must pursue organizational multicultural competence.

Abstract

This article puts forth a call for change in multicultural training at graduate schools of education in order to prepare future professionals to work effectively within our increasingly diverse society. It is suggested that professionals well versed in multiculturalism need to consider how to revise and further refine multicultural training in order to better address linguistic and other diversity to be found among immigrants, as well as issues around sexual orientation, disability, and spirituality. Those relatively new to the field of multiculturalism are similarly encouraged to embrace the task of preparing themselves, appropriate curriculum, and their departments for the task of educating to end oppression and for social justice. Graduate schools of education are challenged to pursue the goal of organizational multicultural competence. Such a goal should be incorporated within the vision and mission of graduate schools of education across the nation, given the new demographics characterizing our increasingly diverse society.