Laura Hampton

8/29/2015
ED258
Multicultural Educator
What does it take to be a multicultural educator? This is a good question for me to
consider. There has been much new information given in the course of this class. I did
not realize exactly how much I still need to learn when it comes to other cultures and my
own as well.
Paul Gorskis article about what he will do to be a more equitable educator has given
me much to consider. Learning how to pronounce every students name is a good
starting point, I believe. It will help all students to feel important if I use their proper
names rather than a shortened one. My son has a good friend who goes by C-lo
because teachers cannot pronounce his name well. I am not sure how he feels about
this, but it is too bad that they could not learn his real name.
Another area that Gorski brings up that seems to me to be a good one is accepting
critiques and criticism from colleagues. As a future educator, I will be working with
people who have many more years of experience than I do. It is necessary for me to
keep an opened mind as to what I need to work on.
Learning that color-blindness is a myth is an area that I had to learn as well. I do know
that people are different, but I was taught to ignore the differences, rather than to study
them. I will need to put in work in this area to overcome some of my out dated ideas. I
remember as a child pointing at someone and asking a question. My mother was very
embarrassed and she hushed me. She probably would have been better off to answer
my question, but she was too embarrassed to do so. There are many other areas that
Gorski brings up that would be good for me to study as well, but I do not have time to
name them all here.
Nel Nodding also brings up some good points on how to be a better teacher. She brings
up the point that our society should not spend so much time trying to get our children to
be number one in math and science, but should teach children the importance of hard
work and to teach them to be less violent. As a mother of two boys, I could not agree
more. There is too much in emphasis on violence and entitlement.
Nodding also brings up the point of why should all students receive the exact same
education? Children are all different and learn at different speeds and have many

differences. Some students just may not be able to grasp certain concepts, but should
not be held back because of this.
To me, the definition of a culturally competent teacher is someone who is able to look at
all of his/her students and see the learning potential in all of them. He/she will be able
to look beyond the physical appearance of each student and see the individual on the
inside. I think it is also important to make each student feel comfortable and safe in the
classroom. The classroom needs to be a place where the students feel like they can
come and talk to the teacher about anything and the teacher will listen.
When considering the DMIS stages, it is necessary for a culturally competent teacher to
be in the ethnorelative stages of understanding. A teacher needs to be able to use
acceptance, adaptation, and integration in the classroom. A teacher needs to recognize
alternative cultural behaviors and values. He/she needs to be able to show empathy for
all students and integrate all students into the classroom regardless of the differences
that the students exhibit in race, religion, physical ability, or sexual orientation. I know
that integration is the final stage, but I feel that the all of the three stages are just as
important for a culturally competent teacher.
There are many areas that we went over in this class that I would like to continue to
learn about. The area that I would like to focus on more information about is
homophobia. I believe that in the future, this will be a topic of great importance. What I
have learned in the past is outdated and not accurate.
All of the Barbra Walters videos on the transgender child were very informative for me. I
had no idea that children that young could be transgender. The family must have to go
through so much in the area of homophobia. I grew up in a very small rural, homophobic
community and was taught to be so also. Later in life, I have changed my viewpoint, but
many of the people that I know from childhood still feel the same way.
Wendy Swartz stated in her article titled, Improving the School Experience for Gay,
Lesbian, and Bisexual Students that studies show that students who are gay etc.
have a much higher rate of physical and substance abuse, homelessness, and
attempted suicide. I find this information to be very sad and alarming at the same time. I
remember what types of slurs were slung at people who were thought to be gay back
when I was in school, and I do not know if it is any better now. I know that back then, the
teachers did not do anything to discourage this behavior and I did not think anything of
it.
As a future educator, I will have to work hard to change things for the marginalized
children of the school system. I feel that all of these students need protection, but that

bisexual, lesbian, and gay students especially need it. In some states, there are still
many beliefs against homosexuality ( I am not sure about laws anymore). It must be
very difficult to feel that the whole world thinks that the feelings that you have are wrong
and bad. I cannot imagine how difficult it must be for these students. Things have to
change.
When I am a teacher, I will work my very best to help all of the students in my class. I
may have to go up against some opposition, but I will do the very best job that I can. I
will help students who have learning and physical disabilities to be sure, but I will look
out for the students who are being left out and made fun of. I plan to be in a classroom
where students feel comfortable and safe, where there is not discrimination. This is a
tall order, but I owe it to the future students of this world to help them as much as
possible.