Last year, the board adopted a resolution to focus the school system's multicultural curriculum exclusively on ethnic, racial and linguistic groups.

An office manager for a finance company, she decided to run for the board after protesting the multicultural curriculum.

"We do not have what you would call a multicultural curriculum," he said.

The program emphasises academic achievement, inquiry-style learning and an international, multicultural curriculum.

But why aren't these same groups embraced in the multicultural curriculum?

The guide was developed in response to policies adopted by the central board to promote a multicultural curriculum and improve intergroup relations.

The issue of a multicultural curriculum has already been tainted by political and racial passions.

Under the resolutions adopted yesterday, the school system's multicultural curriculum will focus on ethnic, racial and linguistic groups.

Oakland's challenge is how to truly have a multicultural curriculum.

At some institutions, the debate comes down to using the Western canon or a multicultural curriculum as stepping stones to critical thinking.