美国高等教育中多元理念及其实践——基于俄亥俄州立大学的课程观察与思考

Multi-culturalism Ideology and Practice in American Higher Education:Observing and Rethinking Curricula at the Ohio State University

美国正迎来非同寻常的"后千禧一代":族裔最为多元化,受教育程度创历史最高。高等教育如何形塑新一代大学生的价值观,关乎整个社会的走向与未来。俄亥俄州立大学的课程设置和教育理念是对全球化与多元化社会的积极回应:人文通识课程教导学生审思国家特性,形塑学生的身份认同,正视"政治正确"与多元理念之间的困惑;系统研习移民社会史,使学生理解文化多元与社会融入议题;以"全球学习项目"构建学生的世界知识谱系,培养跨文化沟通与全球合作能力。美国高等教育面临的挑战实质上是主张多元文化思潮与捍卫西方正统文明之间的论争,认知并承认世界的多元性,才能建立一个有尊严而包容的社会。

The "post-Millennial" generation is the most racially and ethnically diversified and best-educated generation in American history. How higher education shapes these students’ attitudes and behaviors matters the orientation of the future society. The curriculum and educational philosophy of the Ohio State University is a positive response to the globalization and pluralistic society. The liberal arts curriculum teaches students to shape their own identity through rethinking about national identity and face up to the confusion between "political correctness" and pluralistic ideas. Studying systematically the immigrant sociology make students understand cultural diversity and social integration issues. The "global learning program" builds students’ world knowledge spectrum and cultivates their ability of cross-cultural communication and global cooperation.The challenge for higher education in the United States is essentially the debate between advocating multiculturalism and defending western orthodoxy, only by recognizing and acknowledging the diversity of the world can a dignified and inclusive society be built.