Multicultural Education - Essay Example

Multicultural Education Affiliation Challenger elementary school within the larger Pearland community was opened in 1993, and it is located off 9434 Hughes Ranch road (Great Schools). The school’s head mistress and deputy headmistress are Lisa Nelson and Brooke Newell respectively. In addition, the school currently boasts of 57 staff and 694 students (Great Schools). The immediate adjacent surrounding environment to the school consists of pristinely developed housing of what appears to be sober members of the community. The area is cosmopolitan as it contains a diverse collection of individual not only native to the area but also of international descent. The majority of who are whites, Hispanic, migrants from the Asian pacific and African Americans in that order. The number of religious institutions in the area area is many and hence it would seem that the community is relatively peaceful if not cohesive. A fairly large number of individuals live in poverty and thereby getting access to essential reading material could be a challenge. The number of religious institutions however can offer reprieve to this troubled souls by offering any scholarship programs that they may have started. The student- teacher ratio if favorable as one teacher can easily cater for the needs of 14 students and address their learning needs comprehensively. The language barrier in the area is likely to be unfavorable to the natives of the area as they speak that is not the language of instruction in the school hence making students understand what they are taught. Recreational facilities which include the YWCA are available to the students to keep fit through exercise and is affordable to the majority since it is a non- profit making organization Some of the resources that promote multicultural education in the Pearland community are local parks, restaurants, school community centers, and neighborhood libraries. Pearland community has among the best parks in Texas State. The parks provide the residents with a place to walk and enjoy. Centennial Park is located at 3219 McLean road Pearland, TX77581. It is one of the resources boosts multicultural education. People from different social standings, culture, and race meet here. They talk to each other and learn a lot from the others. Students from various schools meet in the park during holidays. It is a wonderful place to get to know about other people in the neighborhood. Shadow creek ranch nature trail located at 1801 kindly Drive Pearland, TX 77584 is another resource that is as vital among the people in the Pearland community as it attracts many families especially during weekends. It provides an opportunity for them to share their experiences and achievements. People get to know each other and learn from one another, hence promoting multicultural education. Families should be able to visit such a place and get to explore their world (Pearland Focus Magazine). Southdown Park is another resource that is so important in enhancing multicultural education. It is located in 2150 country place parkway Pearland, TX77584. It provides an opportunity for families to meet and take part in various activities including sports, watching movies and plays. In attending such activities, people get to relax and learn a lot pertaining to their surroundings. Recreational center and natatorium is located at Bailey road 4141 at veterans drive. The center provides fitness and aquatic opportunities to the Pearland community. Modern facilities have many things to offer that includes yoga and weight rooms. People from various homes in Pearland meet here to utilize the facilities available. The park provides a healthy environment to the people. Pearland community has a variety of volunteer opportunities provided by the parks and recreational parks and recreation centers. For example, in the athletic division, volunteer opportunity may include score keeping and tournament support. These have provided an opportunity for many people to meet and give back to the community and in the event promoting multicultural education (Multicultural Education in Texas). Pearland Westside Library that located in 2803 Business Center Dr is an important multicultural resource. It is where people of the community meet to read and acquire knowledge. Both the young and the old share knowledge in the library that is important for community development. Some resources in the Pearland community prevent multicultural education. There exist so many bars in the community. A good example is Bogie’s Pearland located 9330 Broadway St suite 500, Pearland, TX. Others, such as Brewing Parkland are part of the resources in the community. Such resources hinder multicultural education, especially those bars that admit students and underage people. The consequence is usually detrimental as it results to poor performance in school. The students end up developing bad culture and in the event become addicted. The same students can pull others into the vice making it even worse. Community centers such as the Pearland Islamic center ISGH that permits majorly Muslims, do not allow exchange of cultures or learning from each other. Muslims are not able to understand how Christians tackle their issues. The formation of inter-religion society would give an opportunity to people from different societies to meet, discuss, and learn from one another (Pearland Focus Magazine). Some of the tenants in the community are coming up with stripper clubs that impact bad culture on young people, especially if young girls who may end up being so resourceful in the community are admitted. Such tenants should be advised against such projects and should come up with alternatives that will favor all. Such clubs should never be constructed in a school neighborhood. Pearland community is a fast growing area, and people are moving here from other states. The transport system should be in such a way that will favor all classes of people. These will give an opportunity to all people, especially students who have to travel to school daily. They have the same opportunity like the other kids from the upper class. If the infrastructure is improved, then the learning environment becomes favorable. Movie joints and cinema halls in Pearland should not admit students to watch explicit programs. Such joints need to be banned, especially if they exist near schools. Students and other young people should not be allowed to watch some programs without parental guidance. ‘‘In the chart below, you will find demographic information about Challenger elementary school, Perland ISD and Pearland City. (United States Census, 2010, American Community Surveys,2012, " How Texas Measures Up in the 2012 American Community Survey’’)’’ Part I Demographic Challenger elementary school Pearland ISD Students (Total 694) Faculty (23) Staff (Total 57 Students Staff Racial/ Ethnic groups African American: 23.3% Hispanic: 18.6% White: 36.5 % Native American: 0.6 % Asian/Pacific Islander: 21% White: 86.7 % Asian/Pacific Islander: 2 13.3.3 % Total Minority Staff: 1.9% African American: 19.9% Hispanic: 17.6% White: 59.4% Native American: 0.3 % Asian/Pacific Islander: 9.8% Total Minority Staff: 15.9% African American: 2.5% Hispanic 5.4% Native American 0.4% Asian/Pacific Islander 0.8% Language Diversity Limited English Proficient: 10.4% Bilingual ESL Program: 8.1% N/A N/A Limited English Proficient: 7.6% Bilingual ESL Program: 5.2% N/A Socioeconomic Status Economically Disadvantaged: 8.8% At-Risk: 13.6% N/A N/A Economically Disadvantaged: 18.6% At-Risk: 22.4% N/A Surrounding Community Racial/ Ethnic groups African American: 16.4% Hispanic: 2.7% White: 62.0% Native American: 0.5 % Asian/Pacific Islander: 12.44% Other 6.0% Language Diversity The majority of the residents here speaks English, whereas the rest speaker Spaniard, Vietnamese, Indian and other languages. Social, economic status Total households: 65737. Median Income Under25 $43,136 Median Income 25-44 $63,812 Median Income 45-64 $82,029 Median Income Over 65 $55,220 Average Household Income $80,079 Median Household Income $70,528 Community resources Types Churches Ethnic Restaurants Ethnic Food Stores Community Centers Other   There are various churches in the Pearland community, for example assemblies of God 2 Baptist 4 Baptist Independent 2 Bible 2 Catholic 3 Christian other 1 Church of Christ 1 Episcopal 1 Lutheran 1 Non denominational 3 Pearland community is multicultural hence the restaurants are set up depending on the culture of the people i.e. Indian restaurants, Vietnamese restaurants i.e. American 31, Asian 8 Bar 3 barbecue 10 Most grocery stores have ethnic food isles; there are Indian grocery stores 4 Swedish groceries3 Scarsdale grocery 2 Patel brothers and Asian groceries Pearland medical center, Pearland Islamic Centre and community emergency centers. Community Assistance Programs: 4 Crisis Groups: 8 Cultural Organizations: 5 Health Support Groups: 4 Historical Societies 6 Libraries: 1 Political Organizations: 3 Rotary Clubs: 3 Service Organizations: 9 Part II Over 83% of Pearland, city is residential. There exists both multiple and single-family housing. Pearland has real estate developments too, which are among the most expensive in the city (American Financial Resources Inc). Most of the real estates are situated in bluebird way, Dixie farm road and FM road 865.Single family housing are less than multiple housing units which provide shelter to many people of different cultures in the neighborhood surrounding the school. Pearland community has in the recent past shown increased growth rate and therefore require more housing units to be constructed. More people are also moving here from other parts of the United States and beyond. The mayor and the leadership of the city should put plans in place to help in the construction of future apartment. Business in Pearland community is a mixture of both commercial and industrial. Common industries in Pearland entail professional, production, and manufacturing services. Some of the most common occupation includes electrical equipment, mechanical installation, maintenance, and repair. Production occupation includes supervisors, engineers, sales representatives, services wholesalers, and manufacturing. Some people also work as computer specialists (Multilingual and Multicultural Education" Graduate Programs and Schools in "Texas”). Jeremy Perrine is a Pearland coffee Roasters owner. The business is located at 4106 Broadway. He has employed six female and three male workers. Two of the workers are Asians, three are African Americans, and the rest are white. This contrasts with the community demographics. He explains on how he has seen Pearland develop so fast, even though he was not born there, and he has been in Pearland for only a few years. He explains that all kinds of people frequent the place. People from different lifestyle and various social classes meet at such a joint and get to know about each other. The restaurant acts as a great resource to the development of the people of Pearland community. The community consists of people from within the state and from different state. The owner of the business is from a different community, and this shows how the people of Pearland relate well with each other. The city has various means of transport, including freeway systems such as state highway 288 that joins the city of Houston. FM 518 is the main east-west artery of the city. State highway 35 or telephone road connects the north to the south of the city; Texas state beltway 8 benefits the northern part of the city. The good transport network has, to some extent supported the multicultural education. The school can admit students even from an area that is so far in Pearland city because of the good transport network. This helps bring together learners from different cultural groups with the objectives of learning. Multicultural education is indeed of the essence now that it results in the creation of various solutions to problems faced by various cultures. It also promotes the achievements of common collective goal among students. Despite of the many transport routes available, the transport cost is still high and most people from lower economic classes are not able to afford the cost. The transport system should ensure that transport cost is cheap and affordable to all. Affordable transport cost will be fundamental in the promotion of multicultural education (Implementation of Multicultural Education in Texas Public Schools). Part III The information gathered may be fundamental in understanding the benefits of culture in school. The information will equip teachers with skills on how to handle the many students with different cultural background. The students will also be aware of the benefits of participating in activities that promote culture. Multicultural education is a way of learning that put into context cultural practices in a community that has diverse cultures. Pearland community is among such communities with diverse cultures. When people migrate to a new area or country, they usually retain most of their practice. This includes language, religion, and social customs. Most of them usually continue to practice such as they adapt to the cultures of the new environment. The cultural experiences acquired in the Pearland community may influence the academic achievement of the student either directly or indirectly. The presence of a library in the community provides students with a variety of learning materials. The information they acquire is essential in their academic progress. A student who takes part in sports in various parks in the community or in youth centers remain healthy and of sound mind. Such students do well in their studies. Students who take part in collective activities in the community, such as singing competition and camping are equipped with problem solving skills that are essential in classroom performance. They are aware of how to relate with each other and as a result, they work in teams and improve their grades. Multicultural experience improves positive relationships between teachers and students. Such relationships promote achievements of goals, respect, and appreciation among the students (United States Census Bureau, 2010). Acquiring bad culture, such as abusing drugs makes students drop their studies. Schools should therefore focus on rewarding good culture. Many factors enhance multicultural philosophy. People from different ethnic groups, culture, or gender should not shun one another; instead, they ought to come together for teamwork. Such factors may enable them to gain skills that will be of great importance to them, as it will enable them to generate skills that will enable them to solve multiple problems. Young people, especially those still in school acquire knowledge that may enable them get to know about their world. Factors such as racism prevent multicultural education (United States Census Bureau, 2012). From conducting the study, it has helped to know the benefits of multicultural education. The Community has many resources that promote multicultural education. Other resources impair multicultural education. The community that surrounds the Challenger Elementary School has been of help in the promotion of its growth. Apart from providing the school with resources such as books and transportation services, it also provides medical care. Supply of treated water and proper disposal of sewage are among the factors that have enabled a good relationship between the school and the community. References American Financial Resources Inc. Pearland TX Mortgage Solutions from AFR. www.afrmortgage.com. Retrieved on November 8th 2014 from https://www.afrmortgage.com/pearland-texas.php#null Great Schools. Challenger Primary School. Greatschools.org. Retrieved November 8th , 2014, from http://www.greatschools.org/texas/pearland/5359-Challenger-Elementary-School/ Implementation of Multicultural Education in Texas Public Schools. (2007, October 10). ERIC. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from http://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED264995 July / August 2011 - Pearland Focus Magazine - People • Places • Happenings. (2010, October 12). Issuu. Retrieved October 18, 2014, from http://issuu.com/pearlandfocus/docs/julyaugustpearland11 Multicultural Education in Texas. (2012, December 20). Universities. Retrieved October 17, 2014, from https://www.universities.com/edu/Degree_Majors_Multicultural_Education_in_Texas.html "Multilingual and Multicultural Education" Graduate Programs and Schools in "Texas". (2014, April 5). "27". Retrieved October 17, 2014, from http://www.petersons.com/graduate-schools/texas/multilingual-and-multicultural-education.aspx United States Census Bureau. (2010). Growth in Urban Population Outpaces Rest of Nation, Census Bureau Reports. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/2010_census/cb12-50.html United States Census Bureau. (2012). U.S. Census Bureau Projections Show a Slower Growing, Older, More Diverse Nation a Half Century from Now. Retrieved from http://www.census.gov/newsroom/releases/archives/population/cb12-243.html  Read More