Product Description

Students develop conceptual understanding about complex and emotionally-charged issues of diversity in today's world. The author uses clear examples, lucid language, and engaging activities to involve students in thinking through fundamental ideas that ground their understanding of diversity. The author investigates three converging elements in his examination of human differences: individual attitudes and behaviors, cultural expectations, and institutional policies and practices. This examination provides the basis for the conceptual organization of the text.

Race, class, gender, and diversity.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #68259 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 416 pages

From the Back Cover

A best-selling text for introducing readers to issues of diversity in U.S. society and education, Understanding Human Differences hones in on the study of diversity in 21^st Century America while presenting historical perspectives and background. The text’s clear conceptual framework for teaching about diversity grounded in interdisciplinary research from the social sciences including education, sociology, biology, history, etc. successfully prepares both education and non-education majors to engage in discussions about diversity in America..

The popular inquiry format of this text encourages readers to discuss and debate topics, so they gain a deeper understanding of the issues addressed within each chapter.  The author looks at all of the "isms" of U.S. society (sexism, classism, racism, etc.) through three overlapping lenses: the individual, institutions, and culture.  Its strong historical perspective and balance of theory and application not only prepares pre-service teachers to be more accepting and successful working with diverse students in their classrooms, but also prepares students in other fields to be more sensitive to the issues affecting the diverse individuals they will meet and work with throughout their lives.

New to This Edition

• NEW! Discussion of culturally relevant teaching in U.S. classrooms helps teacher education students understand this innovative educational approach (ch. 13).
• NEW! Discussion of ageism calls attention to such issues as elder abuse and teenage unemployment (Ch. 11).
• NEW! Expanded discussion of Muslim stereotypes clarifies the nature of these stereotypes and how they are presented in popular culture (Chs. 2 and 6)
• NEW! Updated content on anti-immigrant attitudes in the United States, especially toward undocumented workers, including examining research that contradicts common but misinformed perceptions of recent immigration (Ch. 4).
• NEW! Extensive updates on the growth and the benefits of linguistic diversity in the U.S. (Ch. 4)
• NEW! Revised section on institutional racism in politics to reflect the election of President Barack Obama, with discussion of recent changes and the problems that yet remain (Ch. 8).
• NEW! Discussion of disability culture and Deaf culture (Ch. 12).
• NEW! Expanded discussion of education for children and youth with disabilities (Ch. 12).
• NEW! References to brand new assignments and activities on new MyEducationLab for Multicultural Education website.

About the Author
In 2000, Dr. Koppelman published Values in the Key of Life, a book of essays on diversity and moral issues. Understanding Human Differences was first published in 2005. He is currently working on an anthology for Pearson addressing diversity issues. Dr. Koppelman is a professor emeritus at UW-La Crosse.

Customer Reviews

Couldn't give it a ZERO Which it Deserves
This book is HORRIBLE. If I wern't forced to use it in class I wouldn't even touch it. It is terribly slanted in a manner that a previous reviewer got right on. The whole book seems to be based on an incorrect perception that the European White Male is the reason for all of our social ills, not just racism.

An example is how Koppelman drolls on that the White European caused all the hatred in the Mexican population by stealing the Mexican land. He fails to cover the part a large majority of Mexicans are a mix of Native Americans and Spanish Conquistidor's. The Conquistidors plundered the land and slaughtered millions of Native Americans. So he overlooks the ills of the one race to set the Mexican up as a pure victim in this matter. His views are totally flawed throughout this book. And I am not letting Goodhart off the hook either.

Bottom line is: Unless you are absolutely required to use this book; DO NOT buy it. For a great perspective on diversity, see if you can find the aged, but fair and balanced "What you are is where you were when" by Morris Massey.

Understanding Human Differences is not the answer to promoting diversity, it promotes hate.

I am half hispanic and half white. So I have a Minority perspective as well as a white male perspective. Don't buy the hate!

Laughable
My teacher actually uses this textbook's own inaccuracies and discriminations as examples of how NOT to address multiculturalism, it's that bad.

AWFUL!!!
We used this textbook in a college course entitled, "Teaching a Diverse Population."
To a person, we all thought this book was awful.
My biggest problem with this piece of work is that the author expects the reader to agree to a line of logic that is not supported by facts. Sure, there are facts interwoven in each chapter, but the facts don't match the logic.
If I turned in any of these chapters as an argumentative essay to my English Composition professor, I'd surely receive less than an "A."
Additionally, I could have done without the four letter words such as cun* (you fill in the last letter).