Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - 11120076
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED150061 AUTHOR: Codianni, Anthony V.
TITLE: Reaction Paper to "Ethnicity and the Schools."
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1977
NOTE: 20 p.; Paper presented at Annual Meeting of the
National Council for the Social Studies (Cincinnati, Ohio,
November 23-26, 1977)
ABSTRACT: The paper examines ethnicity in American society
and the role of ethnic studies in education in the context
of a critical response to a paper presented at the National
Council for the Social Studies in November, 1977. The
original study, "Ethnicity and the Schools," by Daniel
Selakovich, claimed that ethnic studies should play no role
in education because ethnic heritages are either dead or
reflective of a distant and no longer meaningful past.
Selakovich contended that every ethnic group was willing to
submerge its ethnic identity in order to merge into
mainstream American society. Conversely, this reaction
paper states that American society is as ethnically diverse
today as at any time in history and that the schools have
a responsibility to reflect this diversity. The reaction
paper further criticizes Selakovich's views on six topics:
(1) belief in the American Dream as opposed to belief in
ethnic identity; (2) racism in American society; (3) the
relationship of pluralism to racism; (4) continuation of
ethnic heritage impact on a group which has emigrated; (5)
the ability of American teachers to teach ethnic studies;
and (6) the role of the schools in promoting ethnicity. The
conclusion is that, in refutation of Selakovich's major
contention, ethnic studies should be offered in the schools
because it is an excellent method of helping students
understand and develop skills for coping with the diversity
in American society. (Author/DB)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Analytical-Criticism;
Cultural-Differences;
Cultural-Pluralism; Curriculum-Development; Educational
Needs; Educational-Objectives; Educational-Trends;
Elementary-Secondary-Education; Ethnic-Origins; Persuasive
Discourse; Rhetorical-Criticism; School-Role; Social
Environment; Values-
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *American-Culture; *Ethnicity-; *Ethnic
Studies; *School-Responsibility
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