ABSTRACT
This chapter defines multicultural education and explains its fundamental purposes. It also explains interdisciplinary approaches and how multiculturalism can be integrated through curricular experiences. The multicultural education movement has particular relevance for the new century because of the continuing influx of people into the United States and because of the enlightened and more humane perspective that diversity enriches, rather than weakens, a nation. Various groups and individuals define multicultural education in numerous ways. Some definitions address the perspectives of specific disciplines, such as education, anthropology, sociology, and psychology. Appropriate multicultural education requires more than simply providing cultural information about ethnic groups. One common definition of social justice focuses on human rights abuses and includes issues of minority groups, especially international justice, women's and children's issues, and war crimes and crimes against humanity. Some people argue that multicultural education is an entitlement program and a curriculum movement for African Americans, Hispanic Americans, the poor, women, and other marginalized groups.
