Discussed are some changes needed in teacher education programs if prospective teachers' training in child development is to be relevant to the ethnically diverse children encountered in the classroom. Particular attention is given to characteristics teachers must have to teach children in large urban areas; the incorporation of human growth and development in all aspects of teacher education; training teachers to respond with appropriate instructional strategies to students' culturally-based learning styles; preparing teachers to teach students the intellectual skills they need to learn and use their knowledge; and recommendations for expanding the teacher preparation curriculum and the length of the teacher education program. (RH)