ERIC Number: EJ1173061
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018
Pages: 13
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1361-3324
EISSN: N/A
"I Am Here for a Reason": Minority Teachers Bridging Many Divides in Urban Education
Magaldi, Danielle; Conway, Timothy; Trub, Leora
Race, Ethnicity and Education, v21 n3 p306-318 2018
Minority teachers are overwhelmingly employed in urban schools in underserved, low-income communities with large minority student populations. They receive little in the way of multicultural preparation, mentorship, and professional induction to meet the demands of teaching diverse student populations. This grounded theory study explores the experiences of novice teachers from various minority backgrounds working in urban classrooms. A tentative grounded theory, 'I am here for a reason' emerged, suggesting that minority teachers rely on their personal backgrounds and experiences to help them take an insider's perspective with minority students in light of poor multicultural preparation and limited support in schools. The shared cultural perspective with students enables teachers to connect with and advocate for students, which represents both a strength and challenge for minority teachers. Finally, minority teachers are motivated by a strong desire for social justice as they work to bridge many divides, and are intentional in their work despite facing significant obstacles in training and teaching.
Descriptors: Minority Group Teachers, Urban Education, Inservice Teacher Education, Beginning Teachers, Focus Groups, Preservice Teachers, Preservice Teacher Education, Teacher Education Programs, Urban Schools, Minority Group Students, Grounded Theory, Multicultural Education, Qualitative Research, Social Justice
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Higher Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A