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

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