Misunderstanding Progressive Pedagogy: Slave Auctions, the Ku Klux Klan, and the Perpetuation of White Supremacy in Our Classrooms

• In Event: 32.082 - Roundtable Session 11
  In Roundtable Session: 32.082-5 - Critical Perspectives in the Social Studies

Abstract

Incidents of racially motivated acts of murder and terror are part of an emerging national movement and narrative that demand a better education about defining and openly discussing race. Yet a pattern of poor and inadequate teaching about race emerges when the field is examined. Numerous incidents of offensive race-based teaching that resulted in dismissal or reprimand have captured the attention of educators for the past five years. This paper examines the origins of harmful race-based curriculum and teaching in the public schools. These well-intentioned teachers taught these topics in very problematic ways, but ones that were still grounded in highly regarded student-centered and kinesthetic activities based on culturally relevant topics.

Authors

• Jon Hale, College of Charleston

• Rénard Harris, College of Charleston