allard-makingsenseofdifference-2005.pdf (135.15 kB)
Making sense of difference? Teaching identities in postmodern contexts
conference contribution
posted on 2004-01-01, 00:00 authored by Andrea Allard, Ninetta SantoroHow do teachers make sense of ethnic and classed differences? Frequently students from non-mainstream cultures and of lower socio-economic status are constructed in the literature and through practice as ‘deficit’ and consequently become marginalised. A range of short-term, ‘quick fix’ policy and curriculum approaches have aimed to address the ‘problems’ of those ‘othered’ from the mainstream due to their perceived difference. These have had little effect on improving educational results for students of specific ethnic and/or class backgrounds whose outcomes remain below the national average.
Poststructural theories offer opportunities to think about how teachers are positioned within discourses of identity. Our research (and others’) suggests the need for teachers to interrogate their assumptions about class and culture and how these are played out in their pedagogical relationships with students.
In this paper we report on a small research project that investigates the professional practices and personal beliefs of teachers. Empirical data from this study will build knowledge about how difference is constructed and diversity is ‘taken up’ by teachers as they engage with secondary students who have Language Backgrounds Other Than English and who are economically disadvantaged.
Poststructural theories offer opportunities to think about how teachers are positioned within discourses of identity. Our research (and others’) suggests the need for teachers to interrogate their assumptions about class and culture and how these are played out in their pedagogical relationships with students.
In this paper we report on a small research project that investigates the professional practices and personal beliefs of teachers. Empirical data from this study will build knowledge about how difference is constructed and diversity is ‘taken up’ by teachers as they engage with secondary students who have Language Backgrounds Other Than English and who are economically disadvantaged.
History
Event
Australian Association for Research in Education. Conference (2004 : Melbourne, Vic.)Pagination
1 - 20Publisher
Australian Association for Research in EducationLocation
Melbourne, Vic.Place of publication
Coldstream, Vic.Start date
2004-11-28End date
2004-12-02ISSN
1324-9339Language
engNotes
Reproduced with the specific permission of the copyright owner.Publication classification
E2 Full written paper - non-refereed / Abstract reviewedCopyright notice
2004, Allard and SantoroEditor/Contributor(s)
P JefferyTitle of proceedings
AARE 2004 : Doing the public good : positioning educational research ; AARE 2004 International Education Research conference proceedingsUsage metrics
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