"I Heard a Teacher Say...": Interrupting and Responding to Microaggressions, Bias, and Injustice in Pre-K–12 Settings

• In Event: Interrogating and Responding to Oppression in Teacher and Teacher Education

Abstract

Due to a history of systemic injustices in Virginia public schools as well as the current national rhetoric involving the experiences of historically marginalized communities, P-12 students, pre-service teachers (PSTs), and public school educators are experiencing an uptick in bullying, implicit bias, and aggressive behaviors rooted in racism, linguicism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination/oppression. In Summer 2018, we formed a committee to discuss and address the pervasive and traumatizing experiences faced by PSTs and students. One of our goals was to examine and take action on equity, diversity, and social justice issues emerging from P-12 field placements. This paper explores PSTs’ experiences in the field and reflects on how a teacher education program is working to take action.

Authors

• Ashley Taylor Jaffee, Princeton University

• Kara M. Kavanagh, James Madison University

• Emma Sowards Thacker, James Madison University

• Mira Cole Williams, James Madison University