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The meaning and significance ofethnicity in educational discourse

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Summary

The argument adduced in this article proposes that confusion about the meaning ofethnic and of similar terms can be avoided if the terms are newly defined for each case under consideration. Such a definition should specify which attributes have been selected for distinguishing the compared ethnic groups from each other in respect to the particular facet of educational under discussion.

Ethnicity is significant in educational discourse only if (1) people's ethnic status affects their treatment or their self-perceptions in educational settings, or (2) the contents of education (curricula, textbooks, lectures) reflect ethnic differences, or (3) educational practices and contexts influence the ethnic status to which an individual is relegated.

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Authors
  1. R. Murray Thomas
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Thomas, R.M. The meaning and significance ofethnicity in educational discourse. Int Rev Educ 40, 74–80 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103006

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01103006

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