A Comparative Analysis of Elementary Curricula of Washington State in the U.S. and Korea Focusing on Bennett’s Goals of a Multicultural Curriculum

This study aimed to compare elementary curricula of Washington State in the U.S. and Korea, focusing on Bennett"s Goals of a Multicultural Curriculum. For this purpose, the elementary social studies curriculum of Washington State and elementary curricula of three subjects(social studies, moral education, and integrated subjects) in Korea were compared according to the goals of a multicultural curriculum. The main results of this study were as follows. First, the percent of total grade level expectations of the Washington State Curriculum related to the goals of a multicultural curriculum were higher than that of total achievement standards of Korean curricula. Second, there were similarities and differences between the curricula of Washington State and Korea according to the goals of a multicultural curriculum. For example, there was no achievement standard related to developing multiple historical perspectives in Korean curricula. Third, there were differences between the curricula of Washington State and Korea related to several goals of a multicultural curriculum according to grade cluster. Based on the results, implications for developing a multicultural curriculum in Korea were discussed.