DESCRIPTORS Educational Environment; *Educational Philosophy; Elementary Secondary Education; Higher Education;

Teacher educators must consider two major issues in their efforts to incorporate multicultural education into preservice teacher preparation programs: (1) the background and previous experiences of preservice teachers; and (2) schooling as an ins itution that either inhibits or promotes the strengths of citizens in a democratic society. In both schools and colleges, few role models exist for racial- or language-minority students. In addition, the curriculums at all educational levels tend to be strongly r,onocultural, reflecting little ethnic or cultural diversity. Recent philosophical and theoretical perspectives in education have provided insights into alternatives for multicultural teacher education. Constructivist orientations would lead programs to create experiences in which diverse realities are explored. Developmental psychology perspectives would cause teacher educatio