“Wait . . . They Were Gay?” Reckoning With Authenticity in the Teaching of World War I

• In Event: Advancing Social Justice in Teacher Education: Insights From Preservice Teachers' Understanding and Dispositions

Abstract

A multi-case study, this research project surfaces and centers the thinking and theorizing of pre-service social studies teachers on their thinking about the inclusion of personal information identifying several famous soldier poets as queer during instruction on World War I. This research project also asks participants to consider when and how to include this information if not during the teaching of World War I. Using classroom observation, participant writing, focus group, and individual interviews this article seeks to surface pre-service teacher thinking and theorizing on teaching authentically and truthfully about historical people who are queer.

Author

• Brian C. Gibbs, Georgia College & State University