Teaching Diversity: Listening to the Voices of Multicultural Parents in South Korea

• In Event: Poster Session 3
  In Poster Session: Educational Needs of Immigrant and Minority Students

Abstract

This study examined how multicultural parents, including marriage migrants, North Korean refugees, and immigrant laborers, perceive their child’s education and their participation in the Korean early childhood educational system. The findings showed that the parents were particularly concerned about their child’s potential problems related to learning and peer interaction in future grade schools. The parents also argued that Korean educators often insist “our” or “Korean” ways to the parents. This implies the need for Korean educators to reflect critically on their current practices and provide more holistic approaches of multicultural education to develop students’ understanding of diversity.

Authors

• Yoon H. Lee, Temple University

• Yoo-Seon Bang, Teachers College, Columbia University