“We Don't Have Those Kids Here”: Localism and Multicultural Policy in a white Appalachian Head-Start

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Friday 3:45 pm
  In Roundtable Session: Shifting Demographics and Policy in Rural and Suburban Contexts

Abstract

This presentation focuses on how white Head Start educators in a predominantly white, rural Appalachian community navigate multicultural teaching policies. Using critical discourse analysis of video-cued interviews, field notes, and policy documents, we find educators adapt multicultural narratives to align with local values, in/advertently obscuring intended multicultural goals. Using rural sociological and place centered perspectices, We highlight the complexity of local culture, contributing to discussions of justice-oriented pedagogy within contexts of economic exploitation.

Authors

• Sung Ryung Lyu, American University

• Allison Sterling Henward, Pennsylvania State University