During the earlier phases of my writing on cultural diversity I argued more
for including accurate content about and comprehensive portrayals of
ethnically and racially diverse groups and experiences in various subject
matter curricula than about teaching. These priorities were consistent with
the general developmental trends within this domain in the 1970s and
1980s. I reasoned, as did other advocates, that accurate information about
ethnic and cultural diversity was necessary for both minority and majority
students to counteract the negative discriminations and distortions perpetuated
in conventional conceptions of knowledge and truth, in schooling
generally, and in society at large. Unlike some of the early scholars who
emphasized historical knowledge and experiences, my preference always
leaned more toward cultural and contemporary content, with historical
experiences as foundational influences. This emphasis on “teaching to”
cultural diversity helps students acquire more accurate knowledge about
the lives, cultures, contributions, experiences, and challenges of different
ethnic and racial groups in U.S. society, knowledge that is often unrecognized
or denigrated in conventional schooling.