A new report from the U.S. Census Bureau projects large increases in the numbers of minorities in the nation's schools, with particularly substantial growth projected among Hispanic and Asian students. The report shows that, by approximately the year 2030, "minority" students will be "the majority" of the nation's K-12 students.
At the same time, many studies have now documented the distinct, culturally-based ways in which schools have historically functioned in the U.S. Curriculum materials, instructional strategies, expectations regarding student behaviors, and the language of instruction -- both verbal and non-verbal -- all reflect cultural patterns.
Differences between teachers and students in cultural backgrounds, styles of
interacting, forms of verbal and nonverbal communication, and expectations about
roles of students often lead to misunderstanding and serve as academic
roadblocks for minority students. Learning more about students' cultures and
backgrounds can significantly enhance teachers' ability to foster success among
diverse groups of learners.
What's New on the 'Net
What's New on the Net lists outstanding Internet resources related to cultural and linguistic diversity in K-12 schools. The listed sites have links to hundreds of other valuable Internet resources addressing cultural and linguistic diversity.
American Studies Web:
Race and Ethnicity Section
Diversity
Database
Urban Education Web
Yahoo:
Society and Culture -- Minorities
National Center for Research on
Cultural Diversity and Second Language Learning
National Clearinghouse for Bilingual
Education
Bilingual
Education Resources Page
National Clearinghouse for ESL
Literacy Education
Linguistic Minority Research
Institute
Asian
Continent Information Servers
The Universal Black
Pages
Chicano/Latino Net
Native Web
U.S. Bureau of the Census