This article, written as a memo to the author's friend in response to an earlier conversation, compares the American education system with that of Japan. First, the author examines cultural differences between Japan and America as a lens through which to look at these two countries. Then, Japanese and American schooling are compared in terms of…

Three approaches to assessment of culturally and linguistically different students are psychometrics; "missionary," which tries to apply mainstream models to minority cultures; and developmental, which asserts that individual potential cannot be compared among students. The latter approach is most promising for diverse students. (SK)

Both marginality and moving between cultures are concepts which need to be discussed in college classes. While America and the rest of the world are becoming more multicultural through marriage, immigration, sojourn, etc., little is being done to prepare students to interact effectively with other cultures. In Milton Bennett's (1986, 1993)…

The transformation of education for nation building, currently underway in South Africa, represents a political program driven by utility. Education should be concerned primarily with the self-empowerment of an individual person and, as such, not be sacrificed to demands of utility, which serves the narrow interests of the state and the economy.…

Exposure to racism, prejudice, and stereotypes is common in a student's first experiences in a university setting. Language can be a tool to dispel this lack of knowledge about differences in cultures. Awareness of the negative effects of certain words in the English language is one of the first steps to breaking down barriers of discrimination.…

This article highlights the importance of parent-professional relationships to the academic and social development of special needs students and considers the impact of ethnic, linguistic, and cultural diversity on the establishment of these partnerships. (Author/DB)

Notes that schools are still a long way from becoming multicultural in its expectations and behaviors. Suggests that counselors can play a crucial role in helping minority children (especially Native American children) make sense of seemingly "strange and unreasonable" school behaviors and expectations. Discusses value conflicts between mainstream…

The emptiness and nothingness associated with writer's block is often described as a kind of death, a place where there is nothing to decide, nothing about which to express an opinion. However, for students who enter the writing classroom from a different culture, the problem may not be lack of ideas, but conflicting ideas. Some of these students…

This interview brings out Susan Winebrenner's views on key concepts in her book on teaching gifted students in regular classrooms; the importance of appreciating diversity, utilizing flexible grouping, and allowing for varying learning styles; the administrator's role; the role of independent projects; and the special needs of gifted students. (DB)

Explores ethnic diversity in the teaching force, questioning whether it is desirable. Information is presented from a 1990 conference, "Staffing Texas Schools with an Ethnically Diverse Teaching Force," which focused on recruitment and retention of minority teachers and developed recommendations to enhance cultural diversity in the…

This paper discusses methods for providing students from diverse home environments with essential educational experiences. It emphasizes the importance of patience in teaching children comprehension and offers guidelines for fostering children's development of comprehension, memory, and evaluative and relational thinking skills. (PB)

Although critics frequently attack the concept, multicultural education is neither a new nor a single idea. Cultural factors have become increasingly important for teachers and students alike. In that sense, teachers, administrators, and curriculum designers must become more multicultural. It is helpful to define multicultural education as…

Information from a survey of temperament and learning styles was used with International Teaching Assistants (ITAs) at the University of Minnesota in an ITA development course to enhance their communication skills and teaching abilities. The study used the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, a condensed version of the Myers-Briggs Temperament Inventory,…

This paper focuses on selection of students and curricular programming in gifted education. A current emphasis on selection rather than identification of able learners, including culturally diverse able learners, is noted, as are new understandings of the nature of giftedness, including: giftedness is more than high intelligence; giftedness is…

This book examines the meaning, necessity for, and benefits of multicultural education for students of all backgrounds, providing a conceptual framework and suggestions for implementing multicultural education in today's classrooms. It presents case studies, in the words of students from a variety of backgrounds, about home, school, and community…