Exploration of Teacher Preparation for Teaching Controversial Public Issues

• In Event: Issues in Preservice Teacher Education: Identity, Beliefs, and Praxis

Abstract

This study is aimed at exploring how teacher preparation programs in Taiwan—both traditional and alternative— prepare teachers for teaching controversial public issues specific to Taiwan (e.g., national identity, sovereignty, and ethnic issues). Using a case study design, this study documents six social studies teachers’ readiness and attitudes about whether to teach controversial public issues or not. Findings illuminate that 1) teachers’ attitudes and readiness have been influenced by their teacher preparation programs (both traditional and alternative); 2) teachers from different teacher education programs contribute to their curricular-instructional decision making for teaching controversial public issues differently.

Authors

• Yu-Han Hung, University of Houston - Downtown

• Natasha Perez, University of Houston-Downtown