ABSTRACT
Antiracist multicultural education is essential in preparing children for life in twenty-first century Britain. Whether children live in diverse or seemingly mono-cultural settings, it is important to explore issues and to help children to appreciate others of different backgrounds, cultures and religions. Central to this is the need to explore racism and xenophobia; with regular headlines about migrant workers entering the UK it is important to appreciate that racismmay appear in forms that teachers may not anticipate (for example through attitudes to those from Eastern European countries). This chapter includes issues relating to the families of migrant workers (based around research in the Boston area of South Lincolnshire), refugees and asylum seekers. Fundamental to this is a discussion of human rights; an appreciation of diversity; the need to address myths and misconceptions that have grown up around new populations; and a need to address the recurring debate about ‘British’ values and culture.
