Dear editor,

Many people feel that multicultural education is not needed. Others believe it should be taught in class. I will examine whether teachers should teach multiculturalism in the classroom.

There are several reasons why critics say multicultural education is not needed. First of all, they insist that multicultural education is directed toward only minority groups, thus discriminating against the majority, the mainstream, the middle class.

Secondly, it is claimed that multiculturalism will divide our country and create disharmony and tension among groups, causing the nation to lose its sprit of unity.

An additional point made by critics is that it would be difficult to teach multiculturalism in the class. In other words, without a firm basis, multicultural education is likely to be confusing.

However, the goals of multicultural education form an important part of the curriculum that every student should experience. For one thing, although every member of our society is unique, with different cultural backgrounds, we all fit together to form one unit.

By adding a multicultural component to their curriculums, teachers can help students see how each individual fits into the big picture.

A second point is that multiculturalism promotes positive change for persons of all cultures. It involves not only teaching majority groups about minorities, but also teaching minority groups about majority groups.

It has its base in democratic ideals such as equality, freedom, and justice. Furthermore, the current education policy, which tends toward ``absorption and integration," has numerous side-effects.

Because one parent lacks Korean proficiency, children from multicultural homes often tend to have delayed language development, which leads to slow learning, but education policy integrates them with ordinary students without taking their circumstances into consideration.

Although critics of multicultural education may feel they have valid arguments against the issue, I feel that multicultural education should be included in all curricula.

Multiculturalism will reconcile our divided nation into a place that has no mainstream culture, but many diverse subcultures, which cooperate for the good of everyone, not just the majority or special interests.

Kang Sun-nyeong
Hwajeong-dong, Seo-gu, Gwangju
ksylady@naver.com