Unfortunately, the enthusiasm for multicultural ideas also can be its own enemy. Unfortunately, the worksheets had nothing to do with diversity, cultural or otherwise. McCuaig wanted so badly to include a book about a female detective in his mystery literature class that he overlooked quality in making his selection. The class panned the book. The nation is becoming increasingly diverse, and many analysts believe Caucasians will become a minority in a few decades.
Students have to learn to live and work in a variety of environments, with all kinds of people.
In fact, one of the best ways to sell the benefits of a multicultural outlook to many parents is to emphasize the economic benefits in the work place. The world in 20 years is going to be far different from the world of 20 years ago. For Diaz-Arntzen, one of the major benefits of multicultural education is to show each student the possibilities and opportunities that await them after graduation. Much of the culture outside the classroom seems to tell students what they can and cannot become, she said, and schools need to counteract the negative messages. Diaz-Arntzen knows from experience.