Reading Christina Ho’s article about multiculturalism
has given me plenty of food for thought. Ho discusses in her reading the power
of the ‘everyday multiculturalism’ and the ‘mircopublic’ (Ho, 605) which can be
seen through ‘neighbours exchang[ing] home-grown vegetables and recipes across
their fences’ (Ho, 604). This is significant because it shows the capability of
different cultures interacting at a very basic yet intimate level. Ho comments
that ‘cultural difference is accepted as normal and unremarkable’ (Ho, 604).
For an educational perspective this idea is pretty important because it
promotes acceptance and equality in values. Ho makes mention of this idea in
Australian education systems by commenting that ‘officially, nurturing respect
for cultural diversity is a key goal of the Australian education system.’ (Ho,
605) Yet how does the education system
do this exactly? Education Victoria comment that multicultural education is a commitment
‘where all students are empowered to take advantage of... economic, social and
individual opportunity’ In her article, Ho makes mention of the importance of
public schooling; commenting that ‘two-thirds of children [in Australia] attend
public schools’ which ‘are required to admit any student residing with their
enrolment zones’ and therefore provides a sample of the mircopublic in the
community (Ho, 606). In theory this idea is excellent, a vast mix of cultures
and personalities within the community all around each other, feeding off each
other’s ideas and values and perhaps promoting tolerance. However as Ho points
out diversity in schools doesn’t appear to reflect the community as much as
perhaps policy would like. This made clear by Ho suggesting ‘some of Sydney’s
wealthiest and high performing elite schools are also the least culturally
diverse’ (Ho, 607). Perhaps I’m being rash in saying that this means in other
words, those who can afford it are making sure their children aren’t required
to mix with races they may deem unsatisfactory and rejecting the notion of
empowerment for all. Therefore is there another policy that can promote
multiculturalism in schools, even to those who don’t wish to take part. Frank
Lowy seems to this so. In a speech made to the Australian Multicultural
Council, Lowy commented that ‘there should be a stronger focus on civics
education to ensure that all Australians appreciate the country’. A lot of Lowy’s
comments were also based on current multicultural tensions for example ‘[migrants]
they should know there is a place for peaceful and lawful protest’ and ‘their
children should receive... [a] balanced education untainted by the ideology of
hate’ yet his comments on civic education is worth discussing. Is civics taught
enough in schools? Or more importantly does our education system make us proud
to feel Australian? I always had a feeling that the education system never
truly promoted Australian successes and always focussed largely on the terrible
events of the past. Needless to say these events should be known but is there a
balance in place to promote any form of patriotism or should that be left out
of the education system?
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-09-19/frank-lowy-multicultural-address/4270830
(4th September 2012)
Ho, C. (2011). Respecting the Presence of Others:
School Micropublics and Everyday Multiculturalism. Journal of Intercultural Studies, 32(6), 603-619
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