Multicultural traditions and Islam in U.S. schools today

Abstract

This essay puts forward a historical account of pluralism and multiculturaleducational philosophy within the United States, and considers the case of religious pluralism, specifically the case of Islam and Muslims, in order to fleshout some of the limitations of the traditional multicultural framework andapproach for the contemporary classroom. After examining the history of multicultural thought in the United States against the backdrop of widespreadassimilationism, the essay argues that modern multiculturalism fails to increaseminority student self-esteem, increase minority equality, or preserve culturaltraditions, three major professed goals of leading multicultural educators.Elaborating on its implications for teaching in the case of Islam and Muslims, theessay thus shows that multicultural education is a highly limited approach todifference in the classroom. New approaches are needed.