While on sabbatical this 2013/3014 academic year, I have been researching on the various ways in which perspectives of educators in America are similar or different from those of educators in Ghana.  One of my accomplishments in connection with this endeavor is in the form of a presentation I made at the National Association of Multicultural Education (NAME), 23rd International Conference in November 2013. Here is some information on the presentation. More info. to follow later.

Title:

Embracing the Light and Re/visioning Multicultural Education from a Ghanaian-American Perspective

Abstract:

This presentation advocates a perspective that requires the re-visioning of multicultural education. United States has paid attention to reform efforts in Asia and Europe with less attention being paid to insights that educators from countries such as Ghana may have to share. The presentation provides a forum for conversation on Ghanaian-American multicultural education perspectives. The target audience includes teachers, teacher educators and all those interested in educational reform or related issues.

Content:

The presentation shed light on multicultural education from a perspective that is missing from the conversation and a perspective that requires the re-visioning of multicultural education. So far in the educational reform agenda of the United States, a lot of attention has been paid to reform efforts in Asia and Europe with less attention being paid to the possible contributions and insights that educators from countries such as Ghana may have to share. I assert that there are lessons to be learned and light to be embraced from the shadows of the margins; countries such as Ghana, although usually considered as the “margins” may have something to offer in the conversation on multicultural education. Some questions that the presentation addresses include but are not limited to: how is multicultural education envisioned and evident in the practices of Ghanaian Teachers; what lessons can we learn from teachers from the “margins” such as a developing country like Ghana; conversely, what can Ghanaian teachers learn from their US counterparts? Following an exploration of these questions, a discussion of the blending of pedagogies or instructional approaches from both countries will be presented, shedding light on lessons to be learned from the “margins” (Ghana) and from the “center” (United States). It is my hope that the contributions of a presentation such as this one, will move us, multicultural educators from the “shadows” by embracing the light from a hybridity of instructional approaches from multiple perspectives (Ghanaian and American); requiring us to re-vision multicultural education as we have always known it. The powerpoint that was prepared on this topic is available upon request.