Addressing Alt-Right Challenges While Teaching and Leading for Social Justice in Faculties of Education

• In Event: Moscone Center North Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Teacher Education in a Politically Explosive Era

Abstract

This paper reports on an investigation into the challenges of teaching for social justice in faculties of Education in the face of resistance from students identifying as alt-right supporters. Faculties of education advertise a focus on social justice. Programs are praised for this, and students attend under the impression that they will be safe from harm as a result and will learn to teach and lead for social justice. This study calls into question the ability of faculty to ensure graduates become capable of understanding and applying social justice perspectives upon completion of the program, and faculties ability to protect students in the program from discriminatory peers.

Authors

• Stephanie Diane Tuters, Niagara University

• Vidya Shah, York University