Anti-Oppressive Education Through English Language Arts: A Recollecting Journey

This study contributes to the field of anti-oppressive education, with an intentional focus on English Language Arts (ELA). The research addressed perpetuating oppression within education, specifically in ELA. In addressing this problem, I used narrative and Indigenous methodologies as my theoretical frameworks. I feel that Indigenous methodology lies in the realm of story for the betterment of the collective group and future. Identity is (re)produced and influenced by historical background, social construction, racial identity, and religious identity which shape power relations and social positioning. Through students developing critical literacy skills, applying them to curricular material, and transferring their ways of knowing, normative ideologies can be disrupted. When students can name and recognize oppressive issues, they can begin to address them. Educators and students can move from apathy to action in empowering themselves and others to first see oppression, and then use this awareness to close the gap between the oppressed and the oppressor. Through the use of students writing autobiographies, in the mandated provincial curricular theme of “Recollections – A Journey Back”, students shared stories and reflected on their identities and how that impacts the way they saw and interacted with the world. Students articulated any struggles, epiphanies, growth, enlightenment, or thoughts on their (re)produced ideologies that have been developed and shaped from childhood experiences and educational experiences. KEYWORDS: anti-oppressive pedagogy, narrative, Indigenous methodologies, critical literacy, autobiography, racism, white privilege, male privilege, Christian privilege, color-blind, hegemony, normative, identity.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Education (MEd)

Level thesis:degree_level

Master's

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Curriculm and Instruction

Grantor dc:publisher

Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research, University of Regina

Year dc:date.issued

2012

Author dc:creator

• Baudu, Chantel Rose

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Mulholland, Valerie

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Blackbear, Jolee
• Schick, Carol

Language dc:language.iso

en

DOI

https://doi.org/10.82465/4184

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:uregina.scholaris.ca:10294/3761