Document Type
Article
Original Publication Date
2020
Journal/Book/Conference Title
Citizenship Teaching & Learning
Volume
15
Issue
3
First Page
297
Last Page
322
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1386/ctl_00036_1
Date of Submission
January 2023
Abstract
The view that patriotism is characterized by unquestioning loyalty to one’s country remains common in the United States despite its anti-democratic implications. From this standpoint, classroom discussions of past and present injustices are a threat to patriotism because they raise doubts about national superiority and exceptionality. Through an ethnographic study in two critical, culturally diverse US history classrooms, I investigated students’ attitudes towards their country and the notion of patriotism. As opposed to fomenting disaffection among students, candid discussions of injustices led students to view their teachers and curriculum as more trustworthy than what they had encountered in prior classrooms. Moreover, they believed that this approach to curriculum was necessary for fostering the type of critical democratic patriotism that they advocated.
Rights
Hillary Parkhouse has asserted their right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988, to be identified as the author of this work in the format that was submitted to Intellect Ltd.
Recommended Citation
Parkhouse, H. (2020). Patriotism as critique: Youth responses to teaching about injustice. Citizenship Teaching & Learning, 15(3), 297-322.
Is Part Of
VCU Dept. of Teaching and Learning Publications