This document, the second in a series on diversity in the classroom, explores relationships, addresses issues, and provides a framework for examining multicultural education. It also offers practical ideas for bringing multicultural education to the classroom and school, touching on underlying assumptions and beliefs about cultural diversity, learning, language, and schools. Section 1, "Introduction," reviews the subject. Section 2, "Why is Multicultural Education Important?" discusses reasons for and benefits of promoting multicultural education. Section 3, "What is Multicultural Education?" looks at four approaches to multicultural education: contributions, additive, transformation, and social action. It also examines what a multicultural perspective is and is not. Section 4,"Creating an Environment for Multicultural Education," discusses: guiding principles for reflecting diversity in a multicultural education curriculum, teaching/learning strategies, effective multicultural school characteristics, and examining the multicultural ethos of the school. Section 4, also highlights physical and emotional environments, social needs and interpersonal dynamics, and intellectual needs. Section 5, "Addressing Issues," examines language learning environments, matching teaching and learning styles, curriculum and resource materials, role models, teacher attitudes and expectations, counseling, testing and assessment, labeling and grouping, and anti-biased, anti-racist education. Section 6, "Planning for Action," presents necessary components for successful program planning. Four appendixes present case studies, helping strategies, guidelines areas, and guidelines. (Contains 13 references.) (SM)