Where Are Our Stories? : Decolonizing the Classroom

Geraldine Balzer

ISBN 10: 3639080165 / ISBN 13: 9783639080162

Editore: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller E.K., 2008

Neuware - Recent Canadian curricular reforms have recognizedthe prevalence Amer-Eurocentric literature in theclassroom and the resulting exclusion of minorityvoices. While the new curricula advocate theinclusion of those voices, the comfort of teacherswith these literatures is limited. Not only areteachers unfamiliar with the literature, they do nothave the theoretical knowledge to interpret from anon-Eurocentric tradition. Two teachers workedtogether with Balzer to introduce their students toAboriginal literature and appropriate criticalliterary theories. The exploration of this literatureexposed the presumptions and prejudices arising fromthe systemic racism in the communities. Through theintroduction of this literature, the teachers wereable to engage the students in dialogue andproblematize their assumptions. They were also ableto further their own understandings and developstrategies for teaching minority literatures. Thisstudy provides the groundwork for teacher introducingminority literature in their classrooms and forteacher educators wishing to prepare the nextgeneration of teachers for more inclusive classrooms. Codice articolo 9783639080162

Riassunto:

Recent Canadian curricular reforms have recognized the prevalence Amer-Eurocentric literature in the classroom and the resulting exclusion of minority voices. While the new curricula advocate the inclusion of those voices, the comfort of teachers with these literatures is limited. Not only are teachers unfamiliar with the literature, they do not have the theoretical knowledge to interpret from a non-Eurocentric tradition. Two teachers worked together with Balzer to introduce their students to Aboriginal literature and appropriate critical literary theories. The exploration of this literature exposed the presumptions and prejudices arising from the systemic racism in the communities. Through the introduction of this literature, the teachers were able to engage the students in dialogue and problematize their assumptions. They were also able to further their own understandings and develop strategies for teaching minority literatures. This study provides the groundwork for teacher introducing minority literature in their classrooms and for teacher educators wishing to prepare the next generation of teachers for more inclusive classrooms.

Dati bibliografici

Titolo: Where Are Our Stories? : Decolonizing the ...
Casa editrice: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller E.K.
Data di pubblicazione: 2008
Legatura: Taschenbuch
Condizione: Neu