Confronting Book Banning and Assumed Curricular Neutrality: A Critical Inquiry Framework

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Confronting Book Banning and Assumed Curricular Neutrality: A Critical Inquiry Framework
Language: English
Authors: Burmester, Samuel (ORCID 0000-0002-2685-5213), Howard, Lionel C. (ORCID 0000-0003-1745-5725)
Source: Theory Into Practice. 2022 61(4):373-383.
Availability: 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
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 11
Publication Date: 2022
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Culturally Relevant Education, Elementary Secondary Education, Reading Materials, Context Effect, Racism, Political Issues, Language Arts, Economic Factors, Literature, Critical Race Theory, Inquiry, Censorship
DOI: 10.1080/00405841.2022.2107343
ISSN: 0040-5841
1543-0421
Abstract: Recently, false accusations of Critical Race Theory (CRT) being taught in elementary and secondary schools have emerged in response to culturally relevant, sustaining, and revitalizing curricula; this pushback makes it difficult for many educators to safely employ culturally relevant literature in their classrooms. This article confronts the increasing censoring of curriculum (via book banning and other policies) that privileges White, unidimensional perspectives on language, culture, and curricular topics. Specifically, we suggest a critical inquiry framework (CIF) to guide "how" students read such text and that draws on the tenets of Yosso's Cultural Wealth model. Our CIF is rooted in (1) student examination of the economic and political contexts of literary production and constructs of linguistic and cultural legibility, (2) critical engagement with the represented values of literature, and (3) research and critical engagement in the unrepresented and misrepresented values, languages, and cultures of the literary artifact. Collectively, these components contribute to a framework of how to engage traditionally canonical texts in ways that are culturally sustaining and revitalizing by troubling the assumed neutrality of such literature. The article demonstrates the utility of the CIF in its application to sample text; F. Scott's Fitzgerald's essay "Winter Dreams." We offer consideration for pedagogy and other mediating issues.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2023
Accession Number: EJ1370554
Database: ERIC
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Description
Abstract:Recently, false accusations of Critical Race Theory (CRT) being taught in elementary and secondary schools have emerged in response to culturally relevant, sustaining, and revitalizing curricula; this pushback makes it difficult for many educators to safely employ culturally relevant literature in their classrooms. This article confronts the increasing censoring of curriculum (via book banning and other policies) that privileges White, unidimensional perspectives on language, culture, and curricular topics. Specifically, we suggest a critical inquiry framework (CIF) to guide "how" students read such text and that draws on the tenets of Yosso's Cultural Wealth model. Our CIF is rooted in (1) student examination of the economic and political contexts of literary production and constructs of linguistic and cultural legibility, (2) critical engagement with the represented values of literature, and (3) research and critical engagement in the unrepresented and misrepresented values, languages, and cultures of the literary artifact. Collectively, these components contribute to a framework of how to engage traditionally canonical texts in ways that are culturally sustaining and revitalizing by troubling the assumed neutrality of such literature. The article demonstrates the utility of the CIF in its application to sample text; F. Scott's Fitzgerald's essay "Winter Dreams." We offer consideration for pedagogy and other mediating issues.
ISSN:0040-5841
1543-0421
DOI:10.1080/00405841.2022.2107343