International Perspectives on Intercultural Education

International Perspectives on Intercultural Education offers a comprehensive analysis of intercultural education activity as it is practiced in the countries of Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Romania, Spain, England, South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Chapters by key scholars and practitioners from these nations inform the reader of current educational practice related to diversity. Each author, responding to a common series of guiding questions, presents: *a brief description of the national educational system in her or his country; *descriptive data on demographics in these countries, including data on various subgroups and subcultures and their experiences with the mainstream educational system; * a discussion of the perceived obstacles to addressing intercultural issues in schools and solutions to overcoming these obstacles; and *a comprehensive analysis of intercultural information on how teacher preparation institutions address intercultural education at the present time. An overall concern of each chapter author is how intercultural approaches can be employed to solve the difficulties faced by both individuals and schools while maintaining the cultural integrity of the child.

"Kenneth Cushner's book is courageous and innovative. It examines 13 national education responses to the challenges of dealing with cultural diversity....So it is courageous to draw comparisons across diverse contexts and diverse ways of seeing, and thus tackling, the challenges of intercultural education....Cushner concludes that there are common issues emerging from the 13 brief and probably contestable overviews....Successful resolution may include diverse teacher recruitment and appropriate preparation as well as national commitments to prioritize intercultural issues. This inovative and challenging book builds a basis for developing such a commitment."—Anthropology and Education Quarterly"This book is a welcome addition to the growing literature on multicultural/intercultural education.... I found the volume a rich source of information and very inspiring. Indeed, in my opinion, it should find its place on the book shelves of adminstractors, teachers, and educationalists who are seriously concerned with the education of all children and young people in the coming millennium."—The British Journal of Educational Psychology"His latest volume, International Perspectives on Intercultural Education, has accomplished a formidable task. In one text, he has successfully compiled studies of thirteen country's status with regard to intercultural education. The authors are scholars and researchers with considerable expertise in their respective countries. As such, each section of the text is authoritative and thorough.""...in the vanguard of a world-wide movement to understand and deal with issues of multicultural education, intercultural education, and diversity as educators and educational policymakers attempt to deal with increasing social divisions....Many of these dilemmas condense around education and schooling in particular because education is seen by states everywhere as part of the solution to national survival and economic competitiveness. This book fits a need to have wider coverage of the issues and particular regional studies."—Richard SmithGriffith University, Australia"Although there is a substantial and growing body of literature dealing with intercultural and multicultural issues in education, there are far fewer works that seek to address the field in a truly international/global manner. This book provides a very good start toward filling that gap."—Timothy ReaganUniversity of Connecticut"...places multicultural education in a global perspective....Makes a significant contribution to the fields of multicultural education and teacher education."—Corinne Mantle-BromleyColorado State University