The Beliefs and Practices of Race-Conscious Social Studies Teachers

• In Event: Critical and Controversial Topics in Social Studies Teaching

Abstract

In this interpretative case study, the researchers examined the beliefs and practices of 10 self-identifying race-conscious social studies teachers. Using critical race theory as the lens, the results showed that most of the teachers made race explicit in their classrooms, included race in units not typically considered race-related, and focused on race as a significant factor in determining inequity in the United States. Additionally, while all of the teachers made race a central theme in their classrooms, there was a division between teachers who emphasized working against individual prejudice (prejudice-oriented) and against racial inequity (inequity-oriented). This study adds to the growing research on teaching race in social studies.

Authors

• Christopher C. Martell, Boston University

• Kaylene Mae Stevens, Boston University