This qualitative study explored the potential for decolonizing the secondary English Language Arts classroom. An interdisciplinary approach was used to explore contemporary theories of literary criticism relevant to the study of Aboriginal literature, including an approach through colonial and post-colonial discourse and the growing body of theory and criticism written by North American Aboriginals; to incorporate literary theory and pedagogical knowledge of content into the development of Aboriginal literature units FOR secondary school classrooms; and to incorporate these new interpretive and pedagogical understandings into the practices of two secondary English teachers using North American Aboriginal literature in their classrooms.<p>A document was prepared that explored the interpretive potentials of postcolonial and Aboriginal literary theories and given to the two participating teachers who were able to use this information to develop instructional units for their literature classes. Action research framed the approach used to implement, revise, and evaluate the units of study in the two grade twelve classrooms. <p>The participating teachers found that the critical lenses enabled them to approach Aboriginal literature with more confidence and insight. They also found that their classroom use of Aboriginal literature disclosed the misconceptions their students held concerning Aboriginal peoples. The teachers were frustrated by the systemic racism evident in their classrooms. They were also frustrated by the resistance shown by their teaching peers toward incorporating Aboriginal literature and anti-racist methodologies into their instruction.<p>The findings of this study suggest that more exposure to critical literary theories and minority literatures in the context of teachers pre-service and in-service education may help to decolonize Canadian classrooms.

This qualitative study explored the potential for decolonizing the secondary English Language Arts classroom. An interdisciplinary approach was used to explore contemporary theories of literary criticism relevant to the study of Aboriginal literature, including an approach through colonial and post-colonial discourse and the growing body of theory and criticism written by North American Aboriginals; to incorporate literary theory and pedagogical knowledge of content into the development of Aboriginal literature units FOR secondary school classrooms; and to incorporate these new interpretive and pedagogical understandings into the practices of two secondary English teachers using North American Aboriginal literature in their classrooms.<p>A document was prepared that explored the interpretive potentials of postcolonial and Aboriginal literary theories and given to the two participating teachers who were able to use this information to develop instructional units for their literature classes. Action research framed the approach used to implement, revise, and evaluate the units of study in the two grade twelve classrooms. <p>The participating teachers found that the critical lenses enabled them to approach Aboriginal literature with more confidence and insight. They also found that their classroom use of Aboriginal literature disclosed the misconceptions their students held concerning Aboriginal peoples. The teachers were frustrated by the systemic racism evident in their classrooms. They were also frustrated by the resistance shown by their teaching peers toward incorporating Aboriginal literature and anti-racist methodologies into their instruction.<p>The findings of this study suggest that more exposure to critical literary theories and minority literatures in the context of teachers pre-service and in-service education may help to decolonize Canadian classrooms.

Teachers play a pivotal role in the production of discourse on race relations in education, yet few studies have researched the impact of white teacher identity construction as a variable in the creation and maintenance of racial ideologies, particularly here in Canada. The majority of the current research done on racism in schools has produced data that points to the widespread denial of racism by the majority of white teachers and students, while parents, teachers and students of color acknowledge the pervasive role racism plays in their educational and social lives. While the focus on institutional and systemic racism is important, it sometimes denies the role individuals play in the reproduction of racism and in our ability to make change. For these reasons, it is critical to consider the identity constructions of white teachers, as these constructions will influence how we interpret and respond to existing racial inequalities in education. <p>This research will draw from poststructural theories of discourse analysis in order to analyze how white teacher identity constructions of innocence are reproduced in an education system where racial inequalities are pervasive and systemic. Discourse analysis and deconstruction are important in understanding the way our subjectivity as white teachers continues to be produced and maintained.<p>This study takes place in the Prairie region, where Aboriginal people have been produced as the racial Other historically. Using an open-ended questionnaire, in-service, and focus group method, this research study invites educators to narrate their own perceptions of racism in schools. The collection and analysis of this data begins to address the theoretical gap in academic knowledge on teacher perceptions of racism in education.

My thesis project is an argument for and an investigation into the complex dynamics of what I term a critical, feminist, anti-racist pedagogy. Drawing from scholarly work in the fields of feminist theory, cultural studies, whiteness studies, and rhetoric and composition, in what follows I argue for a blurring of the traditional reason-emotion split that, I believe, continues to stifle learners in todays U.S. educational system. I then offer a pedagogical theory that rejects or blurs this split, acknowledges and examines the affective realm, and is fueled by the more holistic notion and theory of love as a hermeneutic put forth by self-identified U.S. third-world feminist ChlÌ?a Sandoval. Next, I make connections between Sandovals theory and the work of several contemporary feminist scholars who theorize love and the formation of powerful coalitions that can work toward fostering democratizing social change in U.S. society today.

CoordenaÃÃo de AperfeiÃoamento de Pessoal de NÃvel Superior / Nessa tese discutimos a necessidade de um aprofundamento que reflita e aponte caminhos sobre a inserÃÃo e o processamento do conhecimento produzido sobre a cultura de base africana pelos sistemas educacionais do Cariri cearense; tomamos o universo cultural dos alunos como elemento importante na (re)afirmaÃÃo de suas identidades e para o aprendizado da cultura. O lÃcus do estudo à o municÃpio de Milagres onde encontramos um grupo de Congos em plena atividade. O Mestre Doca Zacarias coordena esta manifestaÃÃo mantendo viva a devoÃÃo à Nossa Senhora do RosÃrio como parte importante dos ensinamentos recebidos dos seus ancestrais. O estudo se propÃe a compreender essa manifestaÃÃo da cultura de base africana buscando promover uma discussÃo sobre a premÃncia inclusiva da histÃria e cultura afro no currÃculo da educaÃÃo bÃsica das escolas locais, a fim de se construir uma pedagogia comprometida com o fortalecimento da identidade e combate ao racismo e ao preconceito que atingem as crianÃas e jovens negros(as). Nesse sentido, a transposiÃÃo dessa cultura para a educaÃÃo formal constitui a principal preocupaÃÃo desse trabalho. Apresentamos possibilidades de redimensionamentos das prÃticas pedagÃgicas dos educadores que atuam na educaÃÃo bÃsica no Cariri cearense a partir dessa expressÃo cultural de base africana. A metodologia utilizada tomou como base as narrativas que se deram atravÃs da memÃria individual e coletiva dos atores sociais pertencentes a esse universo que retratam a histÃria de uma comunidade que tem se mantido viva ao longo das geraÃÃes, alÃm de permitir uma reorganizaÃÃo da presenÃa negra no Estado do CearÃ. Durante a realizaÃÃo da pesquisa foram feitos registros fotogrÃficos e filmagens de trÃs eventos artÃstico-culturais onde o grupo foi atraÃÃo principal. O estudo das africanidades caririenses desvelou histÃrias desconhecidas de uma grande parte dos educadores locais, mas que carregam elementos significativos para se compreender o contexto histÃrico-cultural em que se està inserido e, por isso, sÃo componentes importantes para a formaÃÃo das crianÃas e jovens negros e nÃo-negros que frequentam as escolas da regiÃo. / In this thesis we discuss the necessity of a deepening which reflects and points out ways about the insertion and the processing of the knowledge produced about the culture from African basis through the educational systems of the Cariri region in the state of CearÃ; we took the cultural universe of the students as an important element in the reaffirmation of their identities and for the learning of the culture. The study place is the municipality of Milagres where we have found a group of Congos in activity. The Master Doca Zacarias coordinates this manifestation maintaining alive the devotion to Nossa Senhora do RosÃrio as an important part of the teachings received from their ancestors. The study proposes to comprehend the manifestation of the culture from African basis searching to promote a discussion about the inclusive urgency of afro history and culture in the curriculum of basic education in the local schools, in order to constructing a pedagogy committed to the strengthening of the identity and combating the racism and the prejudice which strikes children and young negro people. Therein, the transposition of that culture to the formal education constitutes the principal concern of this work. We present possibilities of dimensioning pedagogic practices of educators who act in the basic education in the Cariri region in the state of Cearà from this cultural expression of African basis. The methodology utilized took as basis the narratives which occurred through the individual and collective memory of the social actors belonging to this universe which retreat the history of a community which has maintained itself alive along the generations, besides permitting a reorganization of the negro presence in the state of CearÃ. During the accomplishment of the research photographic registers and recordings have been made of three cultural-artistic events where the group was the main attraction. The study of the African aspects of the Cariri region has unveiled unknown histories of a great part of the local educators, yet they still carry significant elements for the comprehension of the historical-cultural context in which it is inserted and, because of that, they are important components for the formation of children and young negro people and non-negro ones who attend the schools of the region.

In this thesis, I trace my personal journey and the precursors of unlearning and conversation necessary to start to move towards anti-racism. With a focused look on specific aspects of feminist history, Scripps College as a place was historically contextualized. This allowed for an exploration of its student body, a look at the ways in which traditional gender meanings and expectations necessarily operate within that space. White students who claim the label feminist add complexity to that space, though their reactions to conversations of race can be traced back to the historic and gender over-determined systems of domination and victimhood that produce caustic white feminist tears. Finally, different ways of having difficult conversations are discussed, along with detailed understandings of why those conversations are necessary. In conclusion, I try to envision a kind of feminism that I would like myself and my peers to continue to work for, and emphasize again the sort of education that one must undergo in order to continue their awareness and work.

Student Number : 8708508W - PhD thesis - School of Education - Faculty of Humanities / As the title implies, this research concerned the convergence of race and culture in school settings. How the two categories are related is a complex matter, especially in the context of South Africa where race has played, and continues to play, a critical role in the formation of culture. The study aimed to investigate the dynamics of teaching and learning in racially diverse classrooms in three historically white former Model C Schools in Ekhuruleni East District of Gauteng Department of Education (GDE). To this end I conducted a multiple case study with Grade 8 pupils and their teachers, with a primary intention of illuminating the challenges, attitudes and emotions experienced by teachers and pupils, as well as the dynamics between teachers and pupils, and among pupils. Eight questions guided the data collection through extended on-site observation and interviews: (i) What are the experiences and challenges of teachers and pupils in racially/culturally diverse classrooms? (ii) How do teachers and pupils respond to these experiences and challenges? (iii) What preparation if any, have teachers had in order to face these challenges in racially/culturally diverse classrooms? (iv) How do teachers and pupils and pupils and pupils from diverse race groups interact? (v) What are teachers and pupils opinions about racially diverse classrooms?(vi) What is the significance of race to pupils at the three schools? (vii) How is race conceptualised and lived at school? (viii) What is the impact of the discourse of race on the lives of black pupils? The theoretical framework of this research is situated in the field of teaching and cultural diversity. In order to place the research questions and findings in the context of international and local research and debate on cultural diversity in education, I consulted a wide range of both international and local literature. The thesis presents the main research findings, in terms of four broad themes that cut across the research questions: Change, Subjective Reality and Assimilation; Discourse of Blame and Cultural Deficit Discourse; Home Culture versus School Culture; Perceived Racism or Racism as a Consequence of Change. The analysed data revealed that teachers’ were frustrated and it was evident from their subjective reality that they were not dealing well with change. Pupils preferred homogeneous groups rather than integrated groups thus there was little interaction between racial groups. Hostility was evident and in some cases resulted in fights between black and white pupils. Black pupils perceived the presence of racism among some white teachers and pupils This study could, despite its limitations, pave the way for far more elaborate studies to be conducted.. Since statutory racial integration in South Africa is only ten years old the discourse of racial diversity needs to be illuminated through extensive and intensive research. Teachers need to address both social and educational aims simultaneously as the findings suggest that unless teachers acknowledge and understand diversity in their classrooms and understands the backgrounds of their pupils; these pupils are likely to remain marginalised and desegregated schools run the risk of not contributing to social change.

O presente estudo visa contribuir para o ensino da cultura e da história africana e afro-brasileira tendo como centro de sua reflexão e problematização a figura emblemática de Exu e suas representações em canções brasileiras. O estudo procura desconstruir a associação desse orixá/mediador com o demônio cristão, associação primeiro realizada pela Igreja Católica e hoje reapropriada por algumas Igrejas Neopentecostais ao tornar o Exu alvo preferencial de abjeção, valendo-se de sua figura para difundir intolerância e perseguição às religiões de matriz africana, manifestação do que hoje é conceituado como racismo religioso. Tornar acessível a todos a riqueza das culturas afro-brasileiras mediante as canções populares que falam do Exu, afastando dele a demonização e o preconceito, nos parece pedagogia estratégica para cumprir e estar de acordo com as Leis 10.639/03 e 11.645/08 e com o Parecer CNE nº 03/2004, que tratam das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para a Educação Étnico Racial e o Ensino da História e da Cultura Afro-brasileira e Africana. Por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, investigamos os entrelaçamentos da trajetória do símbolo de Exu e suas múltiplas representações com a trajetória histórica e sócio cultural do negro no Brasil. Partindo do levantamento realizado por Reginaldo Prandi (2005) e ampliando-o, elencamos canções brasileiras que tratam de Exu, compostas entre os anos de 1912 e 2018. Destacamos, entre elas, uma para cada representação de Exu que consideramos significativas, capazes de serem desenvolvidas em projetos pedagógicos, tais como Exu e o poder feminino ou Exu e a representação do malandro, realizando observações sobre aspectos textuais e musicais das mesmas. A escolha das canções como núcleos de reflexões sobre Exu se deu pelo reconhecimento da força mobilizadora da canção e por representar, cada uma delas, um aspecto diferente desse orixá no imaginário social. Os estudos de Silva (2000; 2007; 2012; 2015), Ortiz (1999), Pordeus Jr. (1993; 2000) e Lagos (2007) foram essenciais para o entendimento do símbolo Exu e suas interpretações no Brasil, bem como para as análises dos conteúdos dos textos das canções, produtos artísticos que espelham os contextos históricos e culturais em que surgiram, assim como os interesses mercadológicos enquanto produtos fonográficos. Tais análises foram feitas buscando identificar os indícios sociais e históricos capazes de detectar, na estrutura poética e musical das canções, as múltiplas faces assumidas por Exu. Dessa forma, apontamos Exu como elemento essencial na construção de uma efetiva educação antirracista, intercultural e decolonial e as canções como instrumento facilitador de sua concretização. / The present study aims to contribute to the teaching of African and Afro-Brazilian culture and history taking the emblematic figure of Exu represented in Brazilian songs as the center of this reflections and problematization. This study aims to deconstruct the association of this orixá with the Christian devil, association originaly made by Catholic Church. Today, this concept is reappropriated by some neopentecostal churches making Exu a particular target of abjection, using its figure to disseminate intolerance and persecution of African matrices religions, an expression that is considered today as religious racism. To offer wide accessibility to the richness of Afro-Brazilian cultures through popular songs that speak about Exu, pushing demonization and prejudice away, seems to be an strategic pedagogy to comply with Laws 10.639/03 e 11.645/08 and Legal Advice CNE n.º 03/2004, regarding the Curricular Guidelines to Racial and Etnical Education and Afro-Brazilian and African Culture and History Teaching. Through bibliography research, we could explore the historical intertwining of the trajectory of Exus symbol and its multiple representations with the historical and social cultural trajectory of black people in Brazil. Starting from the data collection made by Reginaldo Prandi (2005) and expanding it, we could list Brazilian songs that refer to Exu composed over the years of 1912 and 2018. We chose, among them all, one for each representation of Exu that we consider significant and able to be developed in pedagogic projects such as Exu and the feminine power and the representations of the malandro, making observations about the textual and musical aspects of these songs. The selection of these songs as nuclei of reflections about Exu was due to the recognition of the driving force of the song and the representations, made by each one of them, of a different aspect of the orixá in social imaginary. The studies of Silva (2000; 2007; 2012; 2015), Ortiz (1999), Pordeus Jr. (1993; 2000) and Lagos (2007) were essential to the understanding of Exus symbols and its interpretations in Brazil, as well as the analyses of the contents of songs lyrics, artistic elements that reflect historical and cultural contexts in which they arose, as well the market interests as phonographic products. Such evaluations were made in order to identify social and historical evidences capable of detecting, in the musical and poetical structure of these songs, Exus multiple faces. Therefore, we consider Exu as essential element in the construction of an effective anti-racist, intercultural and decolonial education, and the songs as facilitator instrument in its concretization.

O presente estudo visa contribuir para o ensino da cultura e da história africana e afro-brasileira tendo como centro de sua reflexão e problematização a figura emblemática de Exu e suas representações em canções brasileiras. O estudo procura desconstruir a associação desse orixá/mediador com o demônio cristão, associação primeiro realizada pela Igreja Católica e hoje reapropriada por algumas Igrejas Neopentecostais ao tornar o Exu alvo preferencial de abjeção, valendo-se de sua figura para difundir intolerância e perseguição às religiões de matriz africana, manifestação do que hoje é conceituado como racismo religioso. Tornar acessível a todos a riqueza das culturas afro-brasileiras mediante as canções populares que falam do Exu, afastando dele a demonização e o preconceito, nos parece pedagogia estratégica para cumprir e estar de acordo com as Leis 10.639/03 e 11.645/08 e com o Parecer CNE nº 03/2004, que tratam das Diretrizes Curriculares Nacionais para a Educação Étnico Racial e o Ensino da História e da Cultura Afro-brasileira e Africana. Por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, investigamos os entrelaçamentos da trajetória do símbolo de Exu e suas múltiplas representações com a trajetória histórica e sócio cultural do negro no Brasil. Partindo do levantamento realizado por Reginaldo Prandi (2005) e ampliando-o, elencamos canções brasileiras que tratam de Exu, compostas entre os anos de 1912 e 2018. Destacamos, entre elas, uma para cada representação de Exu que consideramos significativas, capazes de serem desenvolvidas em projetos pedagógicos, tais como Exu e o poder feminino ou Exu e a representação do malandro, realizando observações sobre aspectos textuais e musicais das mesmas. A escolha das canções como núcleos de reflexões sobre Exu se deu pelo reconhecimento da força mobilizadora da canção e por representar, cada uma delas, um aspecto diferente desse orixá no imaginário social. Os estudos de Silva (2000; 2007; 2012; 2015), Ortiz (1999), Pordeus Jr. (1993; 2000) e Lagos (2007) foram essenciais para o entendimento do símbolo Exu e suas interpretações no Brasil, bem como para as análises dos conteúdos dos textos das canções, produtos artísticos que espelham os contextos históricos e culturais em que surgiram, assim como os interesses mercadológicos enquanto produtos fonográficos. Tais análises foram feitas buscando identificar os indícios sociais e históricos capazes de detectar, na estrutura poética e musical das canções, as múltiplas faces assumidas por Exu. Dessa forma, apontamos Exu como elemento essencial na construção de uma efetiva educação antirracista, intercultural e decolonial e as canções como instrumento facilitador de sua concretização. / The present study aims to contribute to the teaching of African and Afro-Brazilian culture and history taking the emblematic figure of Exu represented in Brazilian songs as the center of this reflections and problematization. This study aims to deconstruct the association of this orixá with the Christian devil, association originaly made by Catholic Church. Today, this concept is reappropriated by some neopentecostal churches making Exu a particular target of abjection, using its figure to disseminate intolerance and persecution of African matrices religions, an expression that is considered today as religious racism. To offer wide accessibility to the richness of Afro-Brazilian cultures through popular songs that speak about Exu, pushing demonization and prejudice away, seems to be an strategic pedagogy to comply with Laws 10.639/03 e 11.645/08 and Legal Advice CNE n.º 03/2004, regarding the Curricular Guidelines to Racial and Etnical Education and Afro-Brazilian and African Culture and History Teaching. Through bibliography research, we could explore the historical intertwining of the trajectory of Exus symbol and its multiple representations with the historical and social cultural trajectory of black people in Brazil. Starting from the data collection made by Reginaldo Prandi (2005) and expanding it, we could list Brazilian songs that refer to Exu composed over the years of 1912 and 2018. We chose, among them all, one for each representation of Exu that we consider significant and able to be developed in pedagogic projects such as Exu and the feminine power and the representations of the malandro, making observations about the textual and musical aspects of these songs. The selection of these songs as nuclei of reflections about Exu was due to the recognition of the driving force of the song and the representations, made by each one of them, of a different aspect of the orixá in social imaginary. The studies of Silva (2000; 2007; 2012; 2015), Ortiz (1999), Pordeus Jr. (1993; 2000) and Lagos (2007) were essential to the understanding of Exus symbols and its interpretations in Brazil, as well as the analyses of the contents of songs lyrics, artistic elements that reflect historical and cultural contexts in which they arose, as well the market interests as phonographic products. Such evaluations were made in order to identify social and historical evidences capable of detecting, in the musical and poetical structure of these songs, Exus multiple faces. Therefore, we consider Exu as essential element in the construction of an effective anti-racist, intercultural and decolonial education, and the songs as facilitator instrument in its concretization.

This thesis is an examination of how white women in interracial relationships and/or white mothers of biracial children understand race. Through interviews with six self-identified white women who have black-white biracial children, I seek to understand what role racism plays in their lives and whether these women have a heightened consciousness about race as a result of being in an interracial family. Using their narratives and a spatial framework, I explore the concept of white supremacy, whiteness and blackness, representations of white femininity and black masculinity in the media, and how white women in interracial relationships cross the colourline in their everyday lives. I suggest that white women learn about colourlined spaces in public, but that they also learn about blackness and teach their biracial children about antiracism in private spaces. Overall, white women need to negotiate rules and norms within racial hierarchies in order to navigate white supremacy.