Voices of Teacher Activists: Exploring Educational Advocacy Within a Framework of Alliances, Assemblages, and Affect

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session 15
  In Roundtable Session: Issues in Teachers Work: Teaching, Curriculum, and Activism

Abstract

This paper explores how teacher activists enact educational advocacy within their union, as members of grassroots social movements and individually. Sources included semi-structured interviews with four teacher activists, analytic memos and authentic documentation. Findings suggest that teacher activists enact advocacy efforts through multiple networks to increase influence, maximize effectiveness and support individual and collective learning amidst an unfavorable political environment. Within a framework of alliances, assemblages and affect, this paper provides an overview of how teacher activism, the education system and society at large can be theorized in more equitable ways. Featuring the voices of committed teacher activists, this paper discusses impetus for advocacy, benefits and challenges, imbued affective energies as well as practical advice for unions and teacher colleagues.

Authors

• Trudy Lynn Keil, University of Regina

• Pamela Janie Osmond-Johnson, University of Regina