Pattnaik (2003) reported that multicultural education must include an action-oriented curriculum that helps minority children reflect on and fight to change practices, which threaten intercultural understanding. This author stated that myths about multicultural education include the following: it is primarily for white children; it is to learn about one's own culture; it is achieved with lessons about food and festivals of minority groups; and it is only to bridge whites and non-whites. Instead, Pattnaik stated that multicultural education must provide an intercultural understanding among children; children must learn about the other, including among their own group.
Pattnaik (2003) stated that to help African American students learn an issue-based curriculum must be designed that engages the children. Children's literature can be used to introduce issues to young children, while children in upper elementary and middle school grades will require a curriculum that helps them e
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