International Association of Educators   |  ISSN: 2834-7919   |  e-ISSN: 1554-5210

Original article | International Journal of Progressive Education 2012, Vol. 8(2) 60-83

Little Rascals in the City of God: Film Reflection and Multicultural Education

Terri Patchen

pp. 60 - 83   |  Manu. Number: ijpe.2012.054

Published online: June 15, 2012  |   Number of Views: 192  |  Number of Download: 386


Abstract

Research has highlighted the factionalizing of pre-service teachers into two groups: Ethnic Minorities who understand diversity, and Whites who do not. In an exploration of the relationship of this distinction to the resources pre-service teachers actually bring into  diversity courses,  this  study utilizes  an  innovative  instructional strategy, ―Film Reflection And Multicultural Education‖ (FRAME) to access the cultural assumptions in pre-service teachers‘ understanding of ―others.‖ Using FRAME, data analysis of 133 pre-service teacher reflections revealed distinctions that fell within expectations related to pre-service teacher ethnicity, but also uncovered variations within ethnic groups. Findings suggest that bifurcating pre-service teachers along ethnic lines, therefore, does little to advance our understanding of the resources with which students enter teacher education programs. Assuring diversity instructors recognize the capacity of all their pre-service teachers to understand diversity is critical to protecting the rights of students (of all ages) to an equitable education. The results of this study show FRAME can help us achieve this goal.

Keywords: diversity, teacher education, equity, reflection, film


How to Cite this Article?

APA 6th edition
Patchen, T. (2012). Little Rascals in the City of God: Film Reflection and Multicultural Education . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(2), 60-83.

Harvard
Patchen, T. (2012). Little Rascals in the City of God: Film Reflection and Multicultural Education . International Journal of Progressive Education, 8(2), pp. 60-83.

Chicago 16th edition
Patchen, Terri (2012). "Little Rascals in the City of God: Film Reflection and Multicultural Education ". International Journal of Progressive Education 8 (2):60-83.

References
  1. Allard, A. (2005). Capitalizing on Bourdieu: How useful are concepts of ‗social capital‘ and ‗social field‘ for researching ‗marginalized‘ young women? Theory and Research in Education, 3, 63-79. [Google Scholar]
  2. Auer, G., Nozik, M., & Tejani, A. (Producers), & Nair, M. (Director). (1988). Salaam Bombay [Motion picture]. India: Cadrage. [Google Scholar]
  3. Banks, J. A. (1994). Multiethnic Education: Theory and Practice (3rd ed.). Needham Heights, MA: Allyn and Bacon. [Google Scholar]
  4. Banks, J. & Banks, C. M. (Eds.). (2004). The handbook of research on multicultural education (2nd ed.) San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. [Google Scholar]
  5. Birnbaum, L., & Brito, P. (Producers), & Salles, W. (Director). (1998). Central do Brasil [Central Station] [Motion picture]. Brasil: Riofilme. [Google Scholar]
  6. Black, T., Navarro, B., & Thomas, A. (Producers), & Nava, G. (Director). (1983). El Norte [Motion picture]. Mexico: American Playhouse. [Google Scholar]
  7. Bluestone, C. (2000). Feature films as a teaching tool. College Teaching, 48, 141-146. [Google Scholar]
  8. Boler, M. (2004). Teaching for hope: The ethics of shattering world views. In D. Liston & J. Garrison (Eds.), Teaching, learning and loving: Reclaiming passion in educational practice (pp. 117–131). New York: Routledge Falmer. [Google Scholar]
  9. Borko, H., & Putnam, R. (1996). Learning to teach. In D. Berliner & R. Calfee (Eds.), [Google Scholar]
  10. Handbook of educational psychology (pp. 673–708). New York: Macmillan. [Google Scholar]
  11. Brown, E. L. (2004). What precipitates change in cultural diversity awareness during a multicultural course the message or the method? Journal of Teacher Education, 55, 325-340. [Google Scholar]
  12. Brown, B. A., Reveles, J. M., Kelly, G. J. (2005). Scientific literacy and discursive identity: A theoretical framework for understanding science learning. Science Education, 89, 779-802. [Google Scholar]
  13. Chandler, R. & Adams, B. (1997). Let‘s go to the movies! Using films to illustrate basic concepts in public administration. Public Voices, 8, 9-26. [Google Scholar]
  14. Chen, H. & Chen, K. (Producers), & Chen, K. (Director). (2002). He ni zai yi qi [Together] [Motion picture]. China: 21 Century Shengkai Film. [Google Scholar]
  15. Chizhik, E.W. & Chizhik, A. W. (2005). Are you privileged or oppressed? Students‘ conceptions of themselves and others. Urban Education, 40, 116-143. [Google Scholar]
  16. Choo, J., Austin, H., & Renshaw, P. (2007). Reasoning with cultural categories in understanding student diversity. International Journal of Educational Research, 46, 229-239. [Google Scholar]
  17. Cochran-Smith, M. (1995). Understanding allies: Understanding the boundaries of race and teaching. Harvard Educational Review, 65, 541-570. [Google Scholar]
  18. Cochran-Smith, M., Davis, D., & Fries, M.K. (2004). Multicultural teacher education: Research, practice, and policy. In J. Banks & C. M. Banks (Eds.), The handbook of research on multicultural education (2nd ed., pp. 931-978). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. [Google Scholar]
  19. Dewey, J. (1938/1997).  Experience and education.  NY: Touchstone. [Google Scholar]
  20. Duckworth, E. (1996). ―The Having of Wonderful Ideas‖ and other essays on teaching and learning. New York: Teachers College Press. [Google Scholar]
  21. Easter, L. M., Shultz, E. L., Neyhart, T.K., & Reck, U.M. (1999). Weighty perceptions: A study of the attitudes and beliefs of preservice teacher education students regarding diversity and urban education. The Urban Review, 31, 205-220. [Google Scholar]
  22. Erikson, E. (1968). Identity: Youth and crisis. New York: Norton. [Google Scholar]
  23. Fischman, G. (2001). Reflections about images, visual culture, and educational research. Educational Researcher, 30, 28-33. [Google Scholar]
  24. Fleming, M., Piedmont, R., & Hiam, C. (1990). Images of madness: Feature films in teaching psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 17, 185-187. [Google Scholar]
  25. Florio-Ruane, S. (2001). Teacher education and the cultural imagination: Autobiography, conversation, and narrative. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum. [Google Scholar]
  26. Freire, P. (1970/1993). Pedagogy of the oppressed. New York: Continuum. [Google Scholar]
  27. Garmon, M.A. (2004). Changing preservice teachers‘ attitudes/beliefs about diversity: What are the critical factors. Journal of Teacher Education, 55, 201-213. [Google Scholar]
  28. Gay, G., & Howard, T. (2000). Multicultural teacher education for the 21st century. The Teacher Educator, 36, 1-16. [Google Scholar]
  29. Gay, G. & Kirkland, K. (2003). Developing cultural critical consciousness and self- reflection in preservice teacher education. Theory into Practice, 42, 181-87. [Google Scholar]
  30. Ghazali, A. (Producer), & Ghobadi, B. (Director). (2004). Lakposhtha Parvaz Mikonand [Turtles Can Fly] [Motion picture]. Iran & Iraq: Mij Film Co. [Google Scholar]
  31. Goffman, E. (1974). Frame analysis. Harper & Row, New York. [Google Scholar]
  32. Gori, M., Gori, V., & Ippolito, C. (Producers), & Wertmüller, L. (1992). Io Speriamo Che me la Cavo [Ciao Professore]. Italy: Penta Film. [Google Scholar]
  33. Gurin P., Dey E. L., Hurtado S., & Gurin G. (2002). Diversity and higher education: Theory and impact on educational outcomes. Harvard Educational Review,  72, 330-366. [Google Scholar]
  34. Hester, S., & Eglin, P. (1997). Membership categorization analysis: an introduction. In S. Hester, & P. Eglin (Eds.), Culture in action: Studies in membership categorization analysis (pp. 1–23). Washington: International Institute for ethnomethodology and conversation analysis and University Press of America. [Google Scholar]
  35. Hytten, K. & Bettez, S. C. (2008). Teaching globalization issues to education  students: What's the point? Equity & Excellence in Education, 41, 168-181. [Google Scholar]
  36. Irvine, J. (2003). Educating teachers for a diverse society: Seeing with the cultural eye. New York: Teachers College Press. [Google Scholar]
  37. Kagan,  D.  (1992).  Professional  growth  among  preservice  and  beginning teachers. Review of Educational Research, 62, 129–169. [Google Scholar]
  38. Kuzma, L. & Haney, P. (2001). And…action! Using film to learn about foreign policy. International Studies Perspective, 2, 33-50. [Google Scholar]
  39. Ladson-Billings, G. (1995). But that‘s just good teaching! The case for culturally relevant pedagogy. Theory into Practice 34, 159-165. [Google Scholar]
  40. LaDuke, A. (2009). Resistance and renegotiation: Preservice teacher interactions with and reactions to multicultural education course content. Multicultural Education, 16, 37-44. [Google Scholar]
  41. Lee, C. (2006). ‗Every good-bye ain‘t gone‘: Analyzing the cultural underpinnings of classroom talk. International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, 19, 305-327. [Google Scholar]
  42. Lazar, A. M. (2004). Learning to be literacy teachers in urban schools: Stories of growth and change. Newark, DE: International Reading Association. [Google Scholar]
  43. Lovell, J. (Ed.). (1998). Insights from film into violence and oppression: Shattered dreams of the good life. Westport, CT: Praeger. [Google Scholar]
  44. Lowenstein, K. (2009). The work of multicultural teacher education: Reconceptualizing White teacher candidates as learners. Review of Educational Research, 79, 163-196. [Google Scholar]
  45. Lundqvist, E., Almqvist, J., & Östman, L. (2009). Epistemological norms and companion meanings in science classroom communication.  Science Education, 93, 859 – 874. [Google Scholar]
  46. Malle, L. (Producer), & Malle, L. (Director). (1987). Au Revoir les Enfants [Motion picture]. France. [Google Scholar]
  47. McAllister, G. & Irvine, J. J. (2000). Cross cultural competency and multicultural teacher education. Review of Educational Research, 70, 3-24. [Google Scholar]
  48. Miles,  M.  B.,  &  Huberman,  A.  M.  (1994).  Qualitative  data  analysis  (2nd   ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. [Google Scholar]
  49. Milner, H. R. (2006). Preservice teachers‘ learning about cultural and racial diversity: Implications for urban education. Urban Education, 41, 343-375. [Google Scholar]
  50. National Center for Educational Statistics (2000). Digest of educational statistics. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office. [Google Scholar]
  51. Nieto, S. & Bode, P. (2008). Affirming diversity: The sociopolitical context of multicultural education (5th ed.). New York: Allyn & Bacon. [Google Scholar]
  52. Orfield, G., & Kurlaender, M. (Eds.). (2001). Diversity challenged: Evidence on the impact of affirmative action. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Educational Publishing Group. [Google Scholar]
  53. Packer, M. (2001). The problem of transfer, and the sociocultural critique of schooling. The Journal of the Learning Sciences, 10, 493-514. [Google Scholar]
  54. Patchen, T. & Cox-Peterson, A. (2008). Constructing cultural relevance in science: A case study of two elementary teachers. Science Education 92(6), 994-1014. [Google Scholar]
  55. Penuel, W. & Wertsch, J. (1995). Dynamics of negation in the identity politics of cultural other and cultural self. Culture & Psychology, 1, 343-359. [Google Scholar]
  56. Pohan, C. (1996). Preservice teachers‘ beliefs about diversity: Uncovering factors leading to multicultural responsiveness. Equity & Excellence in Education, 29, 62-69. [Google Scholar]
  57. Ranvaud, D. & Salles, W. (Producers), & Salles, W. (Director). (2002). Cidade de Deus [City of God] [Motion picture]. Brasil: O2 Filme. [Google Scholar]
  58. Regenspan, B. (2002). Parallel practices: Social-justice focused teacher education and the elementary school classroom. New York: Peter Lang [Google Scholar]
  59. Saffold, F. & Longwell-Grice, H. (2008). White women preparing to teach in urban schools: Looking for similarity and finding difference. The Urban Review, 40, 186-209. [Google Scholar]
  60. Scotta, C. (Producer), & Berliner, A. (Director). (1997). Ma Vie en Rose [Motion picture]. France: Canal +. [Google Scholar]
  61. Shrestha,  L.  B.  (2006).  The  changing  demographic  profile  of  the  United  States. Washington, DC: Congressional Research Service. [Google Scholar]
  62. Shi-xu (1995). Cultural perceptions: Exploiting the unexpected of the other. Culture  & Psychology, 1, 315–342. [Google Scholar]
  63. Sleeter, C. (1995). White preservice students and multicultural education coursework. In J. Larkin, &C. Sleeter (Eds.), Developing multicultural teacher education curricula (pp. 17–30). Albany, NY: State University of New York Press. [Google Scholar]
  64. Strauss, A., & Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE. [Google Scholar]
  65. Summerfield, E. (1993). Crossing cultures through film. Yarmouth, ME: Intercultural Press, Inc. [Google Scholar]
  66. Truffaut, F. (Producer), & Truffaut, F. (Director). (1959). Les quatre cents coups [The 400 Blows] [Motion picture]. France. [Google Scholar]
  67. Truffaut, F. (Producer), & Truffaut, F. (Director). (1976). L‘argent de poche [Small Change] [Motion picture]. France. [Google Scholar]
  68. Turner, G. (1999). Film as social practice (3rd ed.). London: Routledge. [Google Scholar]
  69. Weedon, C. (1999). Feminism, theory, and the politics of difference. Oxford, UK: Blackwell. [Google Scholar]
  70. Wenger, E. (2006). Communities of practice: A  brief  introduction.  Retrieved January 30, 2010, from http://www.ewenger.com/theory/ [Google Scholar]
  71. Wertsch, J. V., & Polman, J. L. (2001). The intuitive mind and knowledge about history. In R. J. Sternberg (Ed.), Understanding and teaching the intuitive mind: Student and teacher learning (pp.57–72). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. [Google Scholar]
  72. Woolfolk-Hoy, A., Davis, H., & Pape, S. J. (2006). Teacher knowledge and beliefs. In P. A. Alexander & P. H. Winne (Eds.), Handbook of educational psychology (2nd ed., pp. 715–737). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. [Google Scholar]
  73. Zhang, W. & Zhao, Y. (Producers), & Zhang, Y. (Director). (1999). Yi Ge Dou Bu Neng Shao [Not One Less] [Motion picture]. China: Guangxi Film Studio. [Google Scholar]