Thesis advisor: David L. Blustein / Deficit-oriented research has ignored the strengths of urban adolescents of color, perpetuating interpretations that they are deviant and pathological (Spencer et al., 2006). Generally unacknowledged by problem-focused perspectives is how youths of color grapple with vulnerability to negative socialization messages, prejudice and discrimination, thus they possess competencies that warrant attention (Blustein et al., 2010; Franklin, 2004; Nicolas et al., 2008; Spencer et al., 2006). The purpose of this study is to examine psychosocial influences that promote career adaptability in a sample of 84 urban adolescents of color. Exploratory questions about the contributions of critical consciousness and racial identity to career outcome expectations and subjective well-being were investigated. The results of the regression analyses offer support for considering selected racial identity schemas (Helms, 1995b) as integral parts of counseling interventions to promote career adaptability. Internalization was significantly associated with both outcome variables. Additionally, decreased levels of Dissonance and Immersion-Resistance were found to be related to higher levels of satisfaction with school and work. Implications for programming and policy include recognizing and strengthening abilities of high school students of color to value their racial identity in the vocational process. These findings enhance the understanding of urban adolescents' psychological armor against social injustice and add to the career development literature by counteracting the negative portrayal of this group. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2010. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Counseling, Developmental, and Educational Psychology.

This thesis explores the potential of bilingual education for the future of American (U.S.) democratic society. It places an assessment of bilingualism in the larger history of the relationship between education and a vision of American democracy. The research focuses on the importance of being multilingual for a democratic society, and argues why bilingual education should be made available to students during the elementary years of their education. This study analyzes the state of California’s educational policies and concludes that viewing bilingual education through assimilationist lenses hinders students’ character and professional opportunity. It promotes acculturation and accommodation without assimilation as a strategy for approaching the incorporation of bilingual educational programs into public schools across the United States.

The purpose of this study was to explore how fifth graders develop critical consciousness regarding the self and the world through critical literacy approaches using multicultural children’s literature. I employed Lewison, Flint, and Van Sluys’ four dimensions of critical literacy. I used a qualitative case study to design, frame and conduct this study in order to collect data and examine students’ cultural patterns including values, beliefs, behaviors, and language that they enacted in the critical literacy practices. I collected data through classroom observations, semi-structured students and teacher interviews, informal conversation, researcher’s reflective journal entries and field notes, and student-made artifacts. Findings show that the students were more aware of their own sociopolitical positions in the school, home and society, as well as how their lives were shaped by the sociocultural and political forces. The students were able to link their critical understanding of their own lives to larger sociopolitical issues associated with power and privilege, and this understanding encouraged them to engage in action for social justice. They were eager to take action such as writing a petition for a gender fairness agenda to create a positive school climate. This study is important for educators who hope to encourage students to become critical thinkers, as it shows how children critically engage in reading, discussion, and action regarding social justice issues through multicultural children’s literature with critical literacy approaches.

The current degree of economic inequality in the US is the largest it has been since prior to the Great Depression and growing. Economic inequality is linked to mortality, social capital, interpersonal trust, and democratic participation, beyond the effects of poverty. Two main constructs are reviewed as predictors of support for efforts to reduce inequality: 1) distributive justice norms (equity and equality of outcome), and 2) causal attributions (individual and structural). Justification of the unequal status quo is often driven by reference to dominant cultural values personal responsibility and just deserts, which are likened to individual attributions and equity, respectively. However, individuals may also recognize that economic outcomes are determined by structural factors such as discrimination and privilege. Recognition that structural factors determine economic outcomes is referred to as systems analysis. Systems analysis is expected to be unrelated to individual attributions, reflecting the common view that economic outcomes are determined by both individual and structural factors. Furthermore, systems analysis is conceptualized as the central determinant of both the extent to which equality of outcome is desirable, despite prevailing preferences for equity, and the use of dominant cultural values as justifications for opposition to redistribution. Because systems analysis reflects the view that resources are not distributed solely based on individual merit, it implies that resources are not distributed fairly. This belief is expected to increase endorsement for equality of outcome and weaken negative effects of equity and individual attributions on support for redistribution. Predictors of support for government action to reduce inequality were examined using the US sample (n = 1414) of the 1991 International Social Justice Project. Opposition to reducing inequality is often driven by reference to dominant cultural values such as the equity distributive justice norm and individualistic causal attributions. The present study tested the hypothesis that supporters and opponents share a common endorsement of these dominant values, but differ in the extent to which they acknowledge that structural factors determine economic outcomes (defined as systems analysis). Results indicated that the negative relationship between individual attributions and support for redistribution was only significant among participants with low systems analysis.

The aim of this study was to investigate the contributions of racial identity and racial socialization beyond peer and parental influence, to the development of critical social analysis in African American youth. Young people perceive injustice and inequality in their world in varying ways. The recognition of societal inequalities, or the development of critical social analysis may be a contributing factor to activism for youth. Factors such as sense of agency, parental and peer influence and intellectual curiosity have previously been explored as contributors to activism for African American youth (Watts, 1999). Study results indicated support for the link between racial identity, racial socialization and a specific factor of critical social analysis. Implications of the findings as well as future directions are discussed.

In this thesis, I consider the ways in which classroom teachers develop critical consciousness and implement it within their pedagogy in the context of effectively teaching Black students to achieve academic success. The process of critical consciousness is complex and is mainly studied outside of teacher education. The findings of this thesis fall into three main themes: self-awareness; analysis of power; and inquiry of assumptions. The research also demonstrates that the spirituality of the teacher is an important contributing factor in one’s transformation. With this work, the hope is that teacher education programs dialogue about the importance of critical consciousness, and integrate it into the recipe that makes up “quality teaching” so that all students can have the opportunity to succeed in an equitable schooling environment.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de NÃvel Superior / Atualmente, na sociedade brasileira, encontra-se um celeiro de iniciativas no que diz respeito à ampliaÃÃo da participaÃÃo dos sujeitos nas decisÃes pÃblicas, dentre elas as associaÃÃes e os conselhos de polÃticas pÃblicas. Tais experiÃncias constituem-se como espaÃos educativos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo principal analisar a contribuiÃÃo das experiÃncias participativas e dos aprendizados nelas vivenciados para a formaÃÃo da consciÃncia crÃtica do âhomem simplesâ no Conselho Municipal dos Direitos da Mulher (COMDIM) e na AssociaÃÃo de Moradores e Amigos do Cauassu (AMACAUASSU) no municÃpio de EusÃbio (Ce), espaÃos de atuaÃÃo polÃtica da pesquisadora. A opÃÃo por pesquisar minha prÃtica encontra-se apoiada em Paulo Freire (2005; 2006; 2008), para quem o conhecimento deve ter funÃÃo eminentemente libertadora, inclusive nas aÃÃes de EducaÃÃo Popular. O ator principal do estudo à o homem simples (MARTINS, 2010). AlÃm do estudo bibliogrÃfico, a pesquisa de abordagem qualitativa, utilizou-se para a produÃÃo dos dados (Gonsalves, 2001) de estratÃgias de cunho etnogrÃfico, tais como: observaÃÃo participante; entrevistas semi-estruturadas; diÃrio de campo; fragmentos de histÃria de vida dos sujeitos; dinÃmicas de grupo e o grupo focal. Utilizei-me ainda da anÃlise de documentos oficiais dos espaÃos, e de um questionÃrio com questÃes fechadas para construir o perfil socioeconÃmico dos sujeitos. Foram entrevistados quatro sujeitos do COMDIM, sete da AMACAUASSU, e um grupo focal com a diretoria da AssociaÃÃo. As observaÃÃes se deram em vÃrios momentos: reuniÃes; audiÃncias pÃblicas; assembleias; momentos de formaÃÃo e avaliaÃÃo. Os resultados evidenciam que apesar da emancipaÃÃo de EusÃbio ter se dado atravÃs de um plebiscito, esse nÃo ocorreu por forÃa da organizaÃÃo e mobilizaÃÃo da sociedade civil organizada, mas por forÃas e interesses polÃtico-partidÃrios. Os espaÃos constituem-se em um esforÃo organizacional significativo, mas ainda nÃo se configuram como espaÃos efetivos de politizaÃÃo das questÃes sociais. Destacam-se como dificultadores do processo formativo e, consequentemente, da participaÃÃo e permanÃncia dos sujeitos nesses espaÃos: a prevalÃncia das formas tradicionais de se fazer polÃtica, baseadas no autoritarismo social, personalismo, clientelismo, e na cordialidade brasileira; a concentraÃÃo exagerada das representaÃÃes da sociedade civil junto aos conselhos gestores de polÃticas pÃblicas; a descontinuidade das aÃÃes formativas e, ainda, a influÃncia da formaÃÃo religiosa dos sujeitos - catÃlicos ou evangÃlicos - acarretando uma hierarquizaÃÃo de valores, com a subordinaÃÃo das atividades da AssociaÃÃo Ãs da Igreja, por exemplo. Contudo, apesar das fragilidades, hà nuanÃas de conscientizaÃÃo e aproximaÃÃes gradativas de um modo de ser democrÃtico. O âhomem simplesâ enquanto gente à inacabado, e se faz humano em suas vivÃncias com outros homens. à preciso que se compreenda que esse sujeito, possui uma histÃria anterior a sua chegada a esses espaÃos, e para alÃm deles. Ele à um sujeito de relaÃÃes! E como sujeito de muitas relaÃÃes, que nÃo apenas as de aspectos sociais, por muitas vezes permite que algumas influÃncias se revelem e se sobressaiam Ãs tentativas de conscientizaÃÃo desse homem. A vivÃncia dos princÃpios da EducaÃÃo Popular, a partir das contribuiÃÃes de Paulo Freire, poderia colaborar para que a formaÃÃo da consciÃncia crÃtica do âhomem simplesâ se desse de forma mais significativa, contribuindo para a construÃÃo de uma nova cultura polÃtica. / Currently, in our Brazilian society, we have lots of initiatives regarding the increasing of the participation of individuals in the process of decisions of public issues, among these, we could mention, Associations and Public Policy Councils. Such experiences comprise the educational spaces. This paper aims mainly to investigate the contribution of participatory experiences, as well as, the learning results experienced from them concerning the formation of critical consciousness by the "simple-minded man" in the Municipal Council for Women Rights (COMDIM) and Dwellersâ Association and Friends of Cauassu (AMACAUASSU) in the municipality of EusÃbio - CE, the researcherâs acting policy spaces. The option for the searching of my practice is hereby supported by Paulo Freire (2005, 2006, 2008), to whom knowledge should have eminently a liberating function, including the sharing of Popular Education. The main actor of the study is the simple-minded man (Martins, 2010). Besides the bibliographical study, a qualitative approach was used to produce the data (Gonsalves, 2001) ethnographic strategies, such as the participating observation, semi-structured interviews, field journal; fragments of life history of subjects, group dynamics and focus groups. I also used the analysis of official documents of the spaces, and a questionnaire with closed questions to build the socioeconomic profile of the subjects. We interviewed four subjects of COMDIM, seven of AMACAUASSU, and a focus group with the board of the Association. The observations took place in several stages: meetings, public hearings, meetings, moments of training and evaluation. The results show that despite the emancipation of EusÃbio has been brought forth by means of a referendum, this has not occurred by virtue of the organization and by the mobilization of civil society, but by the forces and interests of political parties. Spaces are on a significant organizational effort, but still not depicted as effective spaces of politicization of social issues. We could highlight as hindrances for the educational process and, consequently, for the participation and retention of subjects in those spaces: the prevalence of the traditional ways of doing politics which are based upon the social authoritarianism, personality, clientele, and Brazilian cordiality; the exaggerated concentration of civil society representatives within the policymakers Councils; discontinuity in training activities, and also the influence of the religious training of the subjects - Catholics or evangelicals - resulting in a hierarchy of values, with the subordination of the activities of the Association of the Church, just to mention a few. However, despite the weaknesses, there are nuances of awareness and gradual approximations of a democratic way of being. The "simple-minded man" as being an unfinished gentry, and they become more human in their experiences with other individuals. You need to understand that this man has a history prior to his insertion into these spaces, and beyond that. He is a fellow of relationships! And as the subject of many relationships, not just out of social aspects, for often allows some influences stand out and prove to attempts to raise awareness of this man. The experience of the principles of Popular Education, based on the contributions of Paulo Freire, which could contribute to the formation of critical consciousness of the "simple-minded man" that has been the most significant one. Thus, contributing to the construction of a new political culture.

Essentially contested concepts result in continual disagreement over their meaning and use because important consequences flow from these disputes. Evidence of the contested nature of the concept social justice, in the context of teacher education, is documented in academic literature. Empirical evidence of the contested nature of the term is found in the transcripts of National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education (NCATE)’s 2006 reauthorization hearing. Scholars note the complex nature of social justice and that teacher educators and colleges of education frequently use the term (e.g. Hytten & Bettez, 2011; North, 2008; Zollers, Albert, & Cochran-Smith, 2000). This study focuses on the various understandings and applications of the concept social justice in academic writing within teacher education. A directed qualitative content analysis of academic journal articles, guided by Gallie’s (1956) framework, was conducted to identify how the phrase, social justice, is used in the context of teacher education. Gallie’s framework was chosen because it has proved a useful tool to analyze complex concepts (Collier, Hidalgo & Maciuceani, 2006). One of Gallie’s goals in designing his framework was to help scholars’ reason about complex concepts. This study found evidence to support the classification of social justice as an essentially contested concept in teacher education. Additionally, this study found indications in the data that the term may be terminologically contested in the context of teacher education and recommends further investigation. I argue that teacher educators interested in social justice as a reform measure for teacher education should define the concept and come to a consensus about what social justice in teacher education means. The lack of precision in the term makes debate over the merits of concept, in the context of teacher education, difficult.

Thesis advisor: Patrick Proctor / Youth of color are owed an “education debt” from this country, built on systems that sought to disenfranchise people of color, from colonialism and slavery to legacies of redlining and present-day criminalization practices (Ladson-Billings, 2006). Black, Indigenous and Latinx youth have consistently been pushed out of schools at higher rates than other groups (Morris, 2016). In recognizing this problem, this dissertation examined the ways that one alternative program in an urban-area in the Northeast sought to re-engage youth of color through emancipatory pedagogical models. All students, except for one, were youth of color with the majority of students being of Caribbean origin (i.e. Haitian, Dominican, Puerto Rican, Trinidadian, St. Lucian, Jamaican). In examining a need for emancipatory pedagogies, I conducted interviews with alumni and focus groups with current students to understand the multitude of reasons that students had been pushed out of traditional schools in their previous educational experiences. I then conducted interviews with past and present staff, as well as observations in the program, to understand the different pedagogies that were created that promoted decolonization and liberation in this particular alternative program. I then analyzed the short and long-term impacts of the program, primarily in understanding how the program shaped student identities. This study employed a qualitative approach, including a Youth Participatory Action Research component, to examine the factors listed above. MAXQDA was used to code transcripts of focus groups and interviews to determine themes in understanding the development and impact of emancipatory pedagogical models. Findings indicated the importance of creating a foundation for emancipatory pedagogies through staff spaces and conversations to understand implicit biases and teaching philosophies. This work should then be enhanced by building deep and supportive relationships with students and teaching in ways that uplift students’ cultures and promote critical consciousness. Key impacts of these pedagogies were found in racial identity, which was tied to gender identity and academic identity. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2020. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Teacher Education, Special Education, Curriculum and Instruction.

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