Culture has impact on our student’s socialization. Some elements of culture including religion, foods, holidays and celebrations, dress, history and traditions, and art and music. Cultural diversity also can manifest in our views of the life cycle, decorum and discipline, health and hygiene (Example: Explanations of illness and death), values, work and play, and time and space. All could be elements of a shared national culture or of additional family cultures. Each element shapes our students through socialization within their families, later through teacher, peers and environment.

We need to keep in mind that our students’ membership in cultural groups significantly influences their lives both inside and outside of school. Therefore, we have to consider cultural diversities because honouring cultural diversities enhances classroom teaching and learning. As teachers, we have to understand these cultural diversities and try to accommodate to these differences.

We have to honour other people’s beliefs and values because they have their rationale and that contributes to a harmonious society and peaceful nation. These have to start in school where the students are aware of their differences and teacher instil within them the espirit de core (spirit to live together peacefully), tolerance towards others, empathy and pro social behaviour

WAYS to address cultural differences :

(a) Assimilation Theory
According to the assimilation theory, all students must conform to the rules of the AngloAmerican group culture, regardless of their family culture or the rules of other groups to which they belong. “Anglo” culture is superior to all others, differences are threatening and rejected.

(b) Amalgamation Theory
According to Davidson & Phelan:
Cultural differences are ignored. Through the years, many of us have been