The Metropolitan Life Survey of the American Teacher, 1996. Students Voice Their Opinions On: Learning about Multiculturalism. Part IV

This report, the last in a series of four 1996 releases of students' opinions, represents a continued effort by MetLife to provide insight and understanding to current issues of education in American public schools. The survey assessed student opinions and interests in learning about multicultural topics. Public school students from middle and high schools nationwide, grades seven through twelve, responded to questions on the availability of multicultural courses, their interest in taking these courses, their opinions about the emphasis their school places on this subject and their evaluations of teachers' lessons on tolerance. Reported findings include: (1) Most students say their school offers classes on multiculturalism; (2) Students are divided in their opinions on whether their school is placing the right amount of emphasis on teaching multiculturalism; (3) Student interest in learning more about the holidays and other special events that people in different parts of the world celebrate was assessed: most are either very or somewhat interested in this topic; (4) Less than half of students nationwide (44%) think their teachers do an average job of helping them to be tolerant of others; (5) A slight majority of students say their school does a satisfactory job of helping immigrant students learn or improve their English; and (6) Students are divided on whether or not the teachers in their school mirror the social and ethnic makeup of the students. Four appendices are included: (1) Cleaning Data for the Report; (2) Methodology; (3) Harris Scholastic Sample Design Methodology; and (4) Questionnaire. (Contains 25 tables.) [This report is one of a 4-part series. For Part I, see ED504813. For Part II, see ED504814. For Part III, see ED504815.]