Decolonizing the Doctor of Education Degree

• In Event: 60.084 - Roundtable Session 20
  In Roundtable Session: 60.084-4 - Cultivating a Sense of Belonging in Higher Education

Abstract

Indigenous people value education, Yet, what they have encountered in the Western educational system is the colonization of their minds and identity. The system is designed to promote socialization and adherence to Western values, beliefs, and traditions. The brutality of this indoctrination process is well documented. Unfortunately, Indigenous pedagogies which are community-based, which are holistic, and which highlight the reciprocal relationship between teaching and learning, differ greatly from the Western philosophy on education. (Carjuzaa & Fennimore-Smith, 2010). The incongruence between these two pedagogical approaches has a negative impact on Indian students. Open discussion of decolonizing education from pre-school through the doctorate is a first step in improving reconciling hegemonic cultural differences, power imbalances, and very different communication styles.

Authors

• William G. Ruff, Montana State University

• Jenny Bol Jun Lee, The University of Auckland

• Mary Therese Perez Hattori, University of Hawaii at Manoa

• Lorri Michelle Johnson Santamaria, The University of Auckland