Building Socially Inclusive Public Schools: Understanding Caribbean Students' Narratives About Difference

• In Event: Poster Session 10
  In Poster Session: School and Leadership Development in Caribbean and Sub-Saharan African Contexts

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative research was to examine Barbadian and Vincentian students’ understandings of difference, diversity and how students are included in the life of their schools. The study used a focus group strategy to investigate the perspectives of a purposive sample of 46 primary and secondary school students. The research questions were 1. What are Barbadian and Vincentian students’ perspectives of difference? 2. How are students included in the life of the school? Findings indicate that students viewed difference as socially constructed and pluralistic. Microtensions occurred and they also believed that schools support student diversity and inclusion via engendering strong social networks, participation in school councils and teacher support.

Key Words: Public Schools, Inclusion, Primary and Secondary Students

Authors

• Stacey Natasha Jillian Blackman, University of the West Indies

• Dennis Conrad, State University of New York, Potsdam

• Kenneth A. Williams, SIT Graduate Institute

• Theresa L. Abodeeb-Gentile, University of Hartford