A Solitary Journey: Preservice Teachers' Individualistic Constructions of Civic Identity

• In Event: 60.083 - Roundtable Session 19
  In Roundtable Session: 60.083-13 - Studies of Preservice Social Studies Teachers

Abstract

This qualitative instrumental case study of elementary preservice teachers (PST) in a social studies methods class, examines their articulation of good citizenship. Overall, the PSTs reported that good citizens should be knowledgeable and engaged, consistent with course readings and unsurprising given the dominance of relatively passive constructions of citizenship in US education. Deeper analysis suggests that the PSTs’ civic identities are characterized by individualism as they describe the process of becoming informed as an individual and solo journey. Further, they describe their civic engagement as a solo endeavor. The emphasis on individualism reflects existing literature on US citizenship education and civic life and does little to move toward critical citizenship education.

Authors

• Kathryn M. Obenchain, Purdue University

• Erin Vaughn, Purdue University