Eight Years After Obama's Race Speech: Transcending Teacher Candidates' Fear via Democratic Teaching

• In Event: Building Voices of Passion and Justice in Preservice Teachers

Abstract

Fear, or rather the recognition of and consequential transcendence of fear, is potentially a very powerful pedagogical tool—especially in educational settings that purport to strive for democratic teaching practices. In this study, secondary English teacher candidates (TCs) were encouraged to imagine the ways they could overcome fear in order to guide critical discussions about race and politics with students as a means to enhance civic participation and democratic engagement both inside and outside of the classroom.

Authors

• Meghan E. Barnes, University of Georgia - Athens

• Denise Davila, University of Nevada - Las Vegas