My teaching will blend American diversity and the necessities of a pluralistic society with a unifying historical narrative. Teaching with a multicultural perspective does not necessarily detract from the traditional curriculum, or interfere with developing a common vision of democracy, because learning is not a zero-sum game. Instead, the study of citizenship and cultural that is both expansive and inclusive more accurately reflects the American reality. As a social studies educator, I favor a broad interpretation of American culture and seek due recognition for the ways that the nation's many racial, ethnic, and cultural groups have transformed the national culture.
Cultures interact, exchange ideas, and influence another.
When scholars disagree, I will bring those disagreements into the classroom because students should know that history is a lively study, textbooks are fallible, scholars disagree, and history changes as new facts are uncovered and new interpretations win adherents. This section would include examples of student work demonstrating a multicultural approach to social studies education. The philosophy statement is supported by the work of Paul Gagnon and Diane Ravitch.