The need for multicultural education : an autoethnographic search for identity : an honors thesis (HONRS 499)

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Authors
Randolph, Nicole D.
Advisor
Metzger, Kenan L.
Issue Date
2009
Keyword
Degree
Thesis (B.?.)
Department
Honors College
Other Identifiers
Abstract

Diversity is rapidly increasing in public schools, and teachers are often unprepared to both understand and interact with the cultures they encounter, and to teach their students through multicultural education. Much qualitative research about multicultural education exists, but I have examined my own experiences as a student and pre-service teacher through autoethnography. To decide which stories to use, I focused on four research questions: What makes up our identity? Why is multicultural education so important to identity? How can I find my identity? How do I define myself? How do my students define themselves? How can we help students develop strong identities? This has allowed me to tell my story in narrative form, and I then give an analysis of my experiences and my recommendations for other beginning teachers who find themselves unprepared to encounter diversity in their classrooms.