• That by the year 2020, CLD (culturally and linguistically diverse) students will comprise approximately half of the public school population in the U.S.

• That in California alone, there are 57 languages spoken among school age children.

• That children as young as three years of age are aware of racial differences.

• It is estimated that over 1000 students from foreign countries enter public schools for the first time every day in the United States.

• That despite an increasingly diverse population, the majority of teachers and those in teacher preparation programs continue to be predominately Caucasian and middle class.

• Many teachers, regardless of their ethnicity entering the field of teaching have a lack of knowledge of the experiences, needs and resources of CLD student populations, including the presence of racism and social inequality.

• The educational strategies practiced in schools are typically based upon the dominant culture’s values and beliefs (Darder, 1991) [1] and are reflected in the curriculum and materials used in many schools (Sleeter & Grant, 1999; Nieto, 2000)[2].

• While urban and suburban areas were once considered two separate entities, the sharp distinctions between them are becoming blurred due to population increases. These “boombergs” (Halper, 2001) [3] have made issues once associated with a specific locality, issues for all of us.

Notes:

[1] Darder, A. (1991). Culture and power in the classroom: A critical foundation for bicultural education. New York: Bergin and Garvey.

[2a] Sleeter, C.E. & Grant, C.A. (1999). Making choices for multicultural education: Five approaches to race, class and gender. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill Prentice Hall.

[2b] Nieto, S. (2000). Placing equity front and center: Some thoughts on transforming teacher education for a new century. Journal of Teacher Education, 51(3), 180-187.

[3] Halper, E. (2001, July 12). Chances for Urban Charm Seen Amid O.C.’s Sprawl; Land use: County has its share of city centers, but density could lead to even more ‘walkable’ downtowns, study says:[Orange County Edition]. Los Angeles Times, p. B1. Retrieved July 9, 2008, from Los Angeles Times database. (Document ID: 75368854).