The bitter debate over the literary and historical canon has overshadowed the progress made in multicultural education during the last two decades. Detractors mistakenly believe that multicultural education is for victimized minorities and women, opposes the Western tradition, and will divide the nation. Teachers must integrate five knowledge…

Democratic societies require citizens committed to realizing democratic ideals. Multicultural education helps unify a nation deeply divided along racial, ethnic, and class lines. Research documents schoolchildren's biases, showing that multicultural materials and cooperative teaching strategies can help them develop more positive attitudes and…