Moving Beyond Antiracism to Abolition: The Curricula of In-Service Antiracist Teacher Learning and What's Missing

• In Event: Critical Race Theory: Moving Beyond Antiracism

Abstract

Antiracist teacher education in the United States has largely been situated within universities. Despite this scholarship, there has been limited research in this area with school-based teacher education through inservice professional development (PD). This study analyzes the curriculum of antiracist PD in New York City schools between 2012-2022. Using qualitative and arts-based methods, I interviewed 28 teachers, school leaders, and PD facilitators about their experiences in 31 schools. I found that the PD curricula included (a) learning about structural racism, (b) individual reflection, and (c) changing the student-facing curriculum. However, antiracist PD did little to address the existence of carceral relationships or enact institutional change. I contend that schools must go beyond antiracism and consider abolition in teacher learning.

Author

• Abby C. Emerson, Touro University