Early Childhood Teacher Candidates' Experiences With Empathy and Cultural Humility

• In Event: Teacher Education, Teacher, and Pedagogy

Abstract

This multiple case study explores early childhood teacher candidates’ reflections as they think about empathy in their early childhood field placements. Specifically, we use cultural humility as a conceptual tool for interrogating our teacher candidates construction of empathy for children and families who are from a different race or culture. Each racial group of teacher candidates was viewed as one case for a total of five cases (Black, White, Asian, Hawaiian, Multiracial). Data from each case were analyzed and the following cross-case themes were identified across the various racial groups: (1) cultural discontinuity and (2) cultural continuity. By critically troubling teacher empathy, we probe the complexities to interrupt cultural bias and racism in early childhood and teacher education classrooms.

Authors

• Kevin McGowan, Bridgewater State University

• Lea Ann Christenson, Towson University

• Leah Schoenberg Muccio, University of Hawaii at Manoa