Cultural diversity in the primary school (Paperback)

The primary sector has an important role to play in responding to the needs of children in our increasingly diverse society. Drawing on his own experience, David Houlton here highlights the ways in which teachers in infant, junior and middle schools can give a truly multicultural dimension to their work.;The book begins with an historical account of the linguistic and cultural variety which have long been a feature of British life, but have only rarely been given due attention in schools. This overview is then related to the development of multicultural education as a concept informing educational policy and practice. Subsequent chapters examine how ethnic and cultural differences affect children's lives; the professional needs of teachers; and the concerns of ethnic minority parents. Examples are given of successful multicultural practices currently to be found in primary classrooms, and the final chapter considers how schools can develop and implement an effective policy on multicultural education.;David Houlton has also written "All our Languages" and "Supporting Children's Bilingualism". He is director of a European Commission funded project "Supporting Linguistic Diversity".