Mother Tongues: The Opt-Out Movement's Vocal Response to Patriarchal Education Reform

• In Event: Roundtable Session 57
  In Roundtable Session: Educators and Policy Reform, Translation, and Analysis

Abstract

Opt Out is a growing grassroots movement working to dismantle neoliberal educational policy. This study (a) explores neoliberal accountability measures and patriarchal violence as related to the movement; (b) analyzes Opt Out Facebook pages as critical sites of consciousness development where connected learning, knowing, and action occur; and (c) reveals how individual mothers in Opt Out banded together to collectively attack patriarchy by filling the silence of teachers muzzled by the patriarchal violence of neoliberal reforms. This critical ethnography used qualitative survey data and transcripts from individual and focus group interviews to illustrate Opt Out members’ awareness of the violent impact of neoliberal accountability measures, the catalyzing force of the movement’s Facebook pages, and the mothers’ vociferous, collective counterattack.

Authors

• Elizabeth Currin, University of Florida

• Stephanie Schroeder, University of Florida

• Todd McCardle, University of Florida