>>Change is indeed inevitable, but 2+2 still = 4, Newton, Einstein, Tesla, Bohr and a >host of other dead white guy's have not been refuted and phonics still works.<<
Not necessarily, and while it's not my field of study, if you talk to some serious math professors, they can show you how 2+2 does not equal 4. (Any mathematicians that can corroborate are welcome) And while they haven't been refuted, their major works are still considered theory, which means we're still learning. And while we're on the subject of thinkers, you quoted Plato in your original post. Very bright man, know how he got that way? Multiculturalism. Plato studied in Egypt for 13 years, Pythagoras 22 years. Egypt was the center of learning at this time. Scholars came from all over the world to study the knowledge accumulated there. Some even gave credit to the culture they learned from, unlike Pythagoras. Einstein was from Germany, studied in Switzerland. Tesla was from Austria-Hungary studied in Czechoslovakia and apprenticed in the US. Bohr was from Denmark, and studied in England. You see, all of the greatest thinkers recognize that there is benefit to learning the knowledge accumulated by other cultures. They travel to them, encounter them, and learn what they have to teach. They recognize what value they bring. This is what multiculturalism is, learning about other cultures and what knowledge and information they have to share and bringing that together to make a more unified and powerful whole. In the MPS, not all of our children can afford to go to Switzerland or Egypt or England, so we bring it into the classroom. We teach them about the different cultures and the lessons they've learned and provide them with the things they need to become better people and better citizens. You state that multiculturalism is the same as racism and not the way to tear down the barriers, so what then is the answer? By teaching students about different cultures you are teaching them about different ways of thinking, and therein allowing them to learn to think independently and critically. For example, this is the first section of the MPS's Media Education Curriculum Content Standards 1. Information Media Ethics: Students demonstrate understanding of multicultural rights, responsibilities, ethics and equality of use of information media and technology. 1.1 Students demonstrate understanding of rights and responsibilities of freedom of access to information for all. 1.1a Exercise their rights and respect the rights of all cultures to freedom of access of information in the school. 1.1b Demonstrate their responsibilites and encourage responsible actions by all cultures in the appropriate and equitable use of information media and technology. 1.1c Demonstrate their rights and responsibilities for borrowing and returning information media from the public library or other community resource. Given that different cultures have different traditions practices, doesn't it make sense to teach these so that kids from all cultures can work together and learn together. Doesn't that prepare them better? Realistically if teaching respect for different groups and education isn't the answer, what is? Jonathan Palmer Stevens Square-Loring Heights _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A Civil City Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest option, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
