Resistance and Democracy in Teacher Preparation: Understanding the Complexity of Preservice Teacher Resistance to Diversity and Multiculturalism

• In Event: Roundtable Session 2
  In Roundtable Session: Lives of Teachers: Teacher Identity

Abstract

This paper explores the forms of rationalizations that pre-service teacher candidates use to diminish social injustices, and examines the power teacher educators have to resist resistance as a mechanism of modeling democratic principles. Given the challenges of teaching in the 21st century,this session looks to explore how pre-service teacher resistance to social justice impacts the landscape of teacher preparation. This session delineates strategies implemented to move students beyond rationalizations – the power of resisting resistance, and explores the implications for both policy and practice when resistance is resisted. Drawing upon the lives and experiences of two teacher educators, this paper links identity, resistance, and democratic modeling in teacher education.

Authors

• Shirley N. Mthethwa-Sommers, Nazareth College

• Kenneth James Fasching-Varner, Louisiana State University

• Christine Clark, University of Nevada - Las Vegas