The purpose of this study was to examine early childhood teachers' beliefs in multicultural education and provide desirable directions for early childhood teachers to understand and practice multicultural education effectively. Three hundred sixteen e...
The purpose of this study was to examine early childhood teachers' beliefs in multicultural education and provide desirable directions for early childhood teachers to understand and practice multicultural education effectively. Three hundred sixteen early childhood teachers were participated to answer survey questionnaires and four additional early childhood teachers were participated for the interview. To analyze the data, SPSS 12.0 for Windows were used to conduct One-way ANOVA and t-test for examining difference in ealry chlidhood teachers' belief in multicultural education based on their education, teaching experiences, institutions, major, contact with the concept of multiculture, experience in participating in multicultural education.
The results of the study were as follows.
First, early childhood teachers showed differences according to their teaching experience and educational attainment, indicating that the less experience, the higher belief they have, and the more educational attainment, the higher belief they have, regarding all subitems.
Second, teachers in public institutions rather than other types of institutions showed higher belief. In addition, in terms of teachers' major, majoring in child welfare rather than other majors showed higher belief.
Third, in the case of teachers who were teaching young children from multicultural families, they showed differences according to experience in participating in training regarding multicultural education, while teachers without teaching experience regarding multicultural education, they showed according to the presence of absence of the contact with the concept of multiculture.
Fourth, in difficulties for early childhood teachers to practice multicultural education, lack of teacher training regarding multicultural education, a prejudice and a fixed idea of particular races and cultures, lack of multicultural educational materials, lack of knowledge of understanding of multicultural education, a propensity to take unfriendly attitudes toward other cultures, lack of recognition of the necessity for multicultural education, lack of parents' support, and lack of the support system from directors and fellow teachers.
Finally, regarding plans to be supported for vitalizing multicultural education, early childhood teachers thought the provision of teacher training programs about multicultural education, the development of multicultural educational programs, policy and financial support by the nation and communities, efforts by the members of Korean society to transform perception, the provision of information of multicultural education by the press and media, and the implementation of parent education programs for parents from multicultural families.
In conclusion, for early childhood teachers to have right belief in multicultural education and vitalized the multicultural education were suggested as the following.
First, early childhood teacher should be provided with regular training and teaching experience helping practice multicultural education in actual educational settings.
Second, one should develop and introduce multicultural educational programs by taking characteristics of multicultural families in our nation and young children's developmental stages into consideration.
Third, in order for young children from multicultural families, improvement in national policies and support for child care institutions and teachers are required.
Fourth, one should provide education programs to help both parents from multiculture and the parents of our children eliminate their prejudice.