Teacher Political Disclosure as Parrhēsia: Making a Case for Disclosure in Social Studies Classrooms

• In Event: Roundtable Session 26
  In Roundtable Session: Issues in Teacher Education and Social Studies

Abstract

The decision whether to disclose one’s political beliefs in the classroom remains a source of concern for many social studies educators. There exist arguments supporting teacher disclosure as an essential aspect of students’ civic education, yet teachers are often afraid to disclose their opinions for fear of being accused of indoctrination, especially if those beliefs contradict the values of the local community. This paper reframes the discussion of teacher political disclosure by analyzing it through Foucault’s notion of parrhēsia, which he defines as the ability to speak the truth in spite of fear. I suggest that studying teacher disclosure through the lens of Foucault will allow for a better understanding of the challenges teachers face in navigating the disclosure dilemma.

Author

• Wayne Journell, University of North Carolina - Greensboro