Paper Sample on Cultural Diversity in Education: Policies, Practices, and the Pursuit of Equity

Introduction

In the contemporary world, the difference is seen as a component of life. Presently, numerous societies around the globe are composed of a melting pot of distinct traditions, races, and ethnicities. Nonetheless, within this particular melting pot arises, multiple types of both conflicts and relationships as a result of the glaring differences (Setiloane, 2016). Ideally, individuals who are not indigenous section of the majority ethnic group or race struggle with carving out space in a country that they perceive as home, yet the constant humiliations and injustices they are subjected to create the impression that they are viewed as perpetrators by the major race (Setiloane, 2016). Through the lens of the melting point concept, a proper reflection and scrutiny of the existing environment, especially on the educational policies and overall opinion on the education system in the United States of America, can be realized. Classically, the United States of America is one of the nations in the world that is composed of people drawn from all walks of life; thus, it is critical to comprehend how the education framework is structured to accommodate the metaphor of the nation as a melting pot, and how effective the curriculum and the education policies advocate for religious and cultural tolerance while at the same time promoting equality in the acquisition of education in the united states of America.

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Early Education Reflection

Early education is associated with the teaching of children mostly from the period of birth up to around the age of eight. The concept of early education can be backdated to the period of Enlightenment, especially in European countries. The rise of universal primary education as a right in western countries led to the rapid development and implementation of the early education concept in most of European countries (Barnett & Frede, 2017). As witnessed in several other highly industrialized nations, early education programs in the United States of America emerged as a result of diverse historical streams such as the need for early childhood education services that centered on the development of the children, protection of the child, and emphasize the participation of the mothers' labor force.

Initially, early education in the United States was designed to take care of unfortunate children whose mothers were working. However, due to the pressure that emanated from the massive immigration and industrialization during the late 18th century, there was a significant increase in both nurseries and kindergartens (Barnett & Frede, 2017). As such, it was evident that early education would play a critical role in shaping the nature of the interaction of children drawn from different races, cultures, and religions.

Although the United States government is aware of early education's critical role, particularly in integrating and encouraging unity among many people from varied backgrounds and cultures, it has failed to establish a coherent national policy on early education. In fact, education's primary responsibility rests with the state government and not the federal government, leading to a lack of a shared national system of early education. Through congress, the federal government plays a central role in the formulation of early education goals and policies and further oversees that the states implement the policies and goals to meet the demands of the region (Barnett & Frede, 2017). However, states implement policies based on eligibility, supply extent, health, and safety standards; this is crucial in ensuring everyone is accommodated regardless of their culture, religion, or race.

Globalization

Undoubtedly, globalization is a complex and rapidly evolving concept that is hard to comprehend because of the plethora of theoretical interpretations and definitions occasionally applied to explain this relatively complex phenomenon comprehensively. However, the essential description of globalization aligns it with the world's current impression as a melting pot (Jackson, 2016). Classically, globalization is viewed as a multifaceted politically and ideologically triggered process widely used as an umbrella term to elucidate on the complex series of social, economic, technological, and shifts in politics that collectively move ideas, people, goods, and services, and businesses past both domestic and national platforms into an international arena. In turn, there is an enhanced interconnectedness and interdependence between people from different ethnic groups, government entities, cultures, and organizations from distinct locations in a broad global realm.

As the primary formal platform of knowledge conveyance, the school and the education system play a significant role in the theory and globalization process. Notable educational globalization instances entail the spread of universal religions, particularly Christianity and Islam, and colonialism, which dramatically interrupted and displaced the traditional forms and concepts of schooling during a considerable fraction of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries (Jackson, 2016). Compared to colonial globalization, postcolonial globalization has taken an even more drastic subtle shape in the field of education.

Today, the United States of America is experiencing the effects of globalization, particularly in its education system. A good fraction of the students acquiring education in the United States of America is from different nations around the globe. For instance, in my school, about one-third of the total student population consists of students from other continents like Asia and Africa. As such, the institution's primary challenge is how to design the school curriculum best to suit and accommodate all the students and staff without discriminating against their culture or religion.

Current Policies - Cultural and Religious

For ages, American society has witnessed a fierce rivalry in culture. In most cases, the black community's cultural practices in America have always been perceived as primitive. Contrastingly, the whites see their culture and religion as superior and therefore seek to dominate the black and other communities' cultural and religious practices on American soil (Hook et al., 2017). As such, a long war that later came to be known as cultural war has existed in the united states for centuries. Currently, the growing religious and cultural diversity in America poses both challenges and opportunities to society and policymakers. According to Hook et al.2017, diversification is projected to rise over the decade. At the same time, consistent studies illustrate that social exclusion and intolerance of culture and religion are dramatically increasing among schools in the United States, leading to most migrant groups developing feelings of alienation. Consequently, there have been spontaneous unrest and social tensions with America. Education plays a crucial role in preparing societies on how to handle such situations effectively. It also shapes people's political socialization with different backgrounds (Hook et al., 2017).

Numerous policies have been put in place by states and schools to ensure that students, staff, and parents embrace social and cultural tolerance. For instance, in my state, lawmakers have made it illegal for any school to practice segregation based on culture and religion (Jackson, 2016). The students are able to interact freely and share ideas with each other without discriminating against one another. Furthermore, the policymakers have made it mandatory for schools within the state to ensure diversity among its educated workforce; this strategy ensures that cultural and religion tolerance begins right from the teaching staff, making it possible for the students to easily follow the footsteps of the teachers (Hook et al., 2017). Furthermore, the state's policies direct the schools to ensure that they develop and implement culturally relevant curricula. Ideally, the policy improves the morale of the students since they feel accepted by the community.

Nonetheless, my school has designed multiple policies to facilitate cultural and religious tolerance. The school has ensured that most of its teachers are able to acquire diversity training; the diversity training makes it possible for teachers to understand the need to observe religious and cultural tolerance and design effective means of teaching the same in the classroom (Jackson, 2016). The school has also ensured that its leadership and governance are diversified; through this particular action, the school can oversee that emphasis on cultural and religious tolerance is effectively monitored.

Current Policies - Educational Equity

It is generally acknowledged that educational opportunities should be equal for every child in the nation. Education plays a key role in dictating an individual’s life chances in terms of success in the labor market, preparation for citizenship democracy, and general human success. As such, the children’s chances of success in life should not be entirely dependent on specific moral arbitrary circumstances such as race, gender, or social class. According to Maguire (2019), three main factors justify the essence of equality in the education system; these factors include the central position held by education in the current society and the multiple opportunities it brings about, scarcity of quality education for various children, and the vital role of the state in ensuring educational opportunities.

In an attempt to ensure education equity among all races, my state has put forth some policies that regulate the education sector, the policies advocate for even distribution of affordable and quality education opportunities within the state to ensure that everyone, regardless of ethnic group, culture, or religion, can easily acquire education (Maguire, 2019). Nonetheless, it is a provision by the state that every child must attend school for a given duration in years; this means that the state has complete control over education and can effectively reach many people without discrimination.

Furthermore, the school also has policies that emphasize equity in education. My school's policies include honoring students' experiences; this policy advocates for equality by appreciating every student without considering their culture or religion (Maguire, 2019). Moreover, the school has strict policies on social and emotional safety to ensure that the children get equal opportunities in acquiring education and that they do not feel alienated from their peers based on color or cultural practices.

Melting Pot or Cultural Connections and Transformative Pedagogy

Cultural connections define how people from different backgrounds develop cooperative, supportive, and collaborative relationships. Ideally, cultural connections are effective in fostering meaningful relationships (Misco, 2018). On the other hand, transformative pedagogy refers to an activist pedagogy that integrates the elements of critical and constructivist pedagogy that aims at empowering students to critically scrutinize their values, knowledge, and beliefs with the primary aim of developing a more reflective base of understanding and appreciation for varied perspectives and a sense of critical agency and consciousness (Misco, 2018). Consequently, it is essential to establish a meaningful connection between cultural connections and transformative.