Where Are Our Stories? : Decolonizing the Classroom

Geraldine Balzer

ISBN 10: 3639080165 / ISBN 13: 9783639080162

Published by VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller E.K., 2008

About this Item

Neuware - Recent Canadian curricular reforms have recognizedthe prevalence Amer-Eurocentric literature in theclassroom and the resulting exclusion of minorityvoices. While the new curricula advocate theinclusion of those voices, the comfort of teacherswith these literatures is limited. Not only areteachers unfamiliar with the literature, they do nothave the theoretical knowledge to interpret from anon-Eurocentric tradition. Two teachers workedtogether with Balzer to introduce their students toAboriginal literature and appropriate criticalliterary theories. The exploration of this literatureexposed the presumptions and prejudices arising fromthe systemic racism in the communities. Through theintroduction of this literature, the teachers wereable to engage the students in dialogue andproblematize their assumptions. They were also ableto further their own understandings and developstrategies for teaching minority literatures. Thisstudy provides the groundwork for teacher introducingminority literature in their classrooms and forteacher educators wishing to prepare the nextgeneration of teachers for more inclusive classrooms.

Seller Inventory # 9783639080162

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Where Are Our Stories? : Decolonizing the Classroom
• Publisher: VDM Verlag Dr. Müller, VDM Verlag Dr. Müller E.K.
• Publication Date: 2008
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3639080165
• ISBN 13: 9783639080162
• Binding: Taschenbuch
• Condition: Neu
• Dimensions: 220W x 150H x 15D millimeters 220 millimeters width by 150 millimeters height by 15 millimeters depth
• Weight: 387 grams

About this title

Synopsis

Recent Canadian curricular reforms have recognizedthe prevalence Amer-Eurocentric literature in theclassroom and the resulting exclusion of minorityvoices. While the new curricula advocate theinclusion of those voices, the comfort of teacherswith these literatures is limited. Not only areteachers unfamiliar with the literature, they do nothave the theoretical knowledge to interpret from anon-Eurocentric tradition. Two teachers workedtogether with Balzer to introduce their students toAboriginal literature and appropriate criticalliterary theories. The exploration of this literatureexposed the presumptions and prejudices arising fromthe systemic racism in the communities. Through theintroduction of this literature, the teachers wereable to engage the students in dialogue andproblematize their assumptions. They were also ableto further their own understandings and developstrategies for teaching minority literatures. Thisstudy provides the groundwork for teacher introducingminority literature in their classrooms and forteacher educators wishing to prepare the nextgeneration of teachers for more inclusive classrooms.

About the Author

Geraldine Balzer is an Associate Professor of Curriculum Studiesin the College of Education at the University of Saskatchewan.Her experience as a classroom teacher in Inuit communities inCanada's Arctic led to her interest in Aboriginal education. Shecontinues to explore the transformative nature of educationalexperiences.