Humanitie The Role Of Cultural Diversity In Schools

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“The Humanities subjects provide powerful incentives to explore the rootedness and interrelatedness of all things, situations, concepts and values. In this way, they make a major contribution to critical thinking.” (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation, 2009:116) Within the relation to teaching and learning in a Primary School, Grigg and Hughes (2014) argue that there has always been an important focus around the Humanities subjects (History, Geography and Religious Education) because if well instructed the subjects can teach children about the wider world and promote their ‘spiritual, moral, social and cultural development’. Unfortunately, it has become apparent to Ofsted (2011) that sadly the time allocated for these subjects throughout schools has started to decline. Kelly (2013) supports this and argues that, because of this, fewer students are choosing to continue to study the …show more content…

Diversity within our society and the increasing percentage of people who have English as an additional language, has made multicultural education crucial at all levels of education. According to The Oxford English Dictionary, the definition of multiculturalism is broad, but one that includes: "The policy or process whereby the distinctive identities of the cultural groups within such a society are maintained or supported". Diversity values all of our individual differences and talents, creating a culture where everybody can contribute, flourish and succeed. It is also important to educate and inform children and young people that the world is full of different people, cultures, religions and beliefs which may differ from their own and the importance of respecting these differences is why we must teach diversity. This is where, as educators, should promote a classroom environment in which everyone, regardless of colour, creed or culture, feels included and at