Abstract:

This study is about multicultural education and religious tolerance in the midst of increasing religious intolerance in the educational environment. This study  analyses elementary school teachers’ understanding of multicultural education and its implementation. The research method is a case study in the city of Yogyakarta, chosen because it is both know as a city of education and because this city has declared it a tolerant city. The results showed that the understanding of elementary school teachers’ multicultural education is generally essentialist, but some were constructivist or anti-essentialist.  The attitudes and actions of elementary school teachers, both consciously and unconsciously, may also include religious intolerance. One of the factors that distinguishes the content of religious tolerance and intolerance among elementary school teachers is their attitudes and actions towards local cultural principles. The higher the appreciation of local culture, the greater amount of religious tolerance. Further, when appreciation of local cultural traditions is low, it is more likely that a teacher is intolerant of other religions.  

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