Are We Comfortable Teaching This?
Abstract
The article presents a study on the perception of teacher educators of colors about teaching controversial Asian-American children's books. The study focused on the books "So Far From the Bamboo Grove" and its sequel "My Brother, My Sister and I." The impact of the cultural identities of the teacher educators on the use of such books in teaching pre-service teachers about the experiences of the Japanese and Koreans during World War II is discussed. The potential for the teacher educators to use self-study as an opportunity for professional development is also discussed. The study found that three themes emerged from conversations about "So Far From the Bamboo Grove," namely, cultural identity, discomfort related to cultural identity and historical accuracy.
Reference
Suh, Y., Hinton, K., Marken, J., & Lee, G. L. (2011). Are we comfortable teaching this? Using banned books as a vehicle for teaching about World War II-Era Japan & Korea. Multicultural Education, 19(1), 24-30.
Journal
Multicultural Education
Analysis
Is this article part of a larger project or series of studies?
Does this study draw on a large, preexisting data set?
no
Research Approach
Geographic Setting
- Southeastern United States
Institutional Context
- Teacher training institute
- University based
Certification Level
Programatic Focus
Research Location Context
Preservice Participants
Preservice Sample Size
Other Participant Data
Duration of Data Collection
Data Sources
- Audio recordings
- Autobiographies
- meeting notes
- Transcriptions
Data Analysis Tools
Researcher Positionality
- Inside (studying their own practices)
Research Questions
What did we learn from this book?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How do we want to use this book in teacher education courses?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes
How do our cultural identities influence the way we make sense of this book?
Is this research question explicit from the manuscript? Yes