Research Article

Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West"

Volume: 58 Number: 1 April 15, 2025
TR EN

Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West"

Abstract

This case study sought to find out the perceptions of eight educators living in Arizona, USA, which is known as “the wild West” in popular culture, regarding multicultural education. The study used eight-month-long classroom observations, document analysis and semi-structured interviews with eight educators. In this study, educators’ stories were described and situated in their historical, social, economic and cultural context. The findings of the study reveal the lifeworlds of multicultural students in Arizona, US as well as the basic principles of multicultural (teacher) education from the lens of participant educators. Multicultural students in the region were reported to be disadvantaged suffering from poverty, hunger, deprivation and domestic violence. Data analysis revealed the key principles of multicultural education as having dialogic relationships, being respectful of language and culture, community building, advocacy, moving beyond rage, and sharing power. Besides, this study demonstrated multicultural teacher education should be interdisciplinary and experiential benefiting from narratives of diverse populations. For the participant educators, teacher candidates should face the harsh realities of their students’ daily lives and teach them how to defend their rights. In doing so, teachers should also pay attention to self-care to protect their well-being.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

Middle East Technical University-Scientific Research Project (BAP)

Project Number

2018-EGT-082

Ethical Statement

This study was reviewed and approved by IRB Chair of Northern Arizona University

References

  1. Au, W. (Ed.). (2009). Rethinking multicultural education: Teaching for racial and cultural justice. Rethinking Schools Publication.
  2. Banks, J. A. (2007). Multicultural education: Characteristics and goals. J.A. Banks, & C. A. McGee Banks (Ed.), Multicultural Education Issues and Perspectives Sixth Edition içinde (s. 3-26). Wiley.
  3. Banks, J. A. (2011). Educating citizens in diverse societies. Intercultural Cochran- Smith, M. (2010). Toward a theory of teacher education for social justice. A. Hargreaves vd. (Eds.), Second international handbook of educational change (s. 445-467). Springer.
  4. Cummings, A., Harris, G. & Marks, D. (2012). “Helping Teachers Connect with Native American Students.” Leaders of Learning, June 2012. Texas ASCD.
  5. Cochran-Smith, M. (2010). Toward a theory of teacher education for social justice. In Second international handbook of educational change (pp. 445-467). Springer: Netherlands.
  6. Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the oppressed 30th anniversary edition. New York: Continuum.
  7. Gay, G. (2000). Culturally responsive teaching: Theory, research and practice. Teachers College Press.
  8. Gerken, C. (2013). Model immigrants and undesirable aliens: The cost of immigration reform in the 1990s. Univerity of Minnesota Press.

Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Multicultural Education, Teacher Education and Professional Development of Educators

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

April 15, 2025

Submission Date

October 25, 2024

Acceptance Date

February 18, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 58 Number: 1

APA
Tezgiden Cakcak, S. Y. (2025). Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West". Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES), 58(1), 337-380. https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.1573655
AMA
1.Tezgiden Cakcak SY. Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West". JFES. 2025;58(1):337-380. doi:10.30964/auebfd.1573655
Chicago
Tezgiden Cakcak, Sebahat Yasemin. 2025. “Looking at Multicultural Education from the ‘Wild West’”. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES) 58 (1): 337-80. https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.1573655.
EndNote
Tezgiden Cakcak SY (April 1, 2025) Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West". Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES) 58 1 337–380.
IEEE
[1]S. Y. Tezgiden Cakcak, “Looking at Multicultural Education from the ‘Wild West’”, JFES, vol. 58, no. 1, pp. 337–380, Apr. 2025, doi: 10.30964/auebfd.1573655.
ISNAD
Tezgiden Cakcak, Sebahat Yasemin. “Looking at Multicultural Education from the ‘Wild West’”. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES) 58/1 (April 1, 2025): 337-380. https://doi.org/10.30964/auebfd.1573655.
JAMA
1.Tezgiden Cakcak SY. Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West". JFES. 2025;58:337–380.
MLA
Tezgiden Cakcak, Sebahat Yasemin. “Looking at Multicultural Education from the ‘Wild West’”. Ankara University Journal of Faculty of Educational Sciences (JFES), vol. 58, no. 1, Apr. 2025, pp. 337-80, doi:10.30964/auebfd.1573655.
Vancouver
1.Sebahat Yasemin Tezgiden Cakcak. Looking at Multicultural Education from the "Wild West". JFES. 2025 Apr. 1;58(1):337-80. doi:10.30964/auebfd.1573655

Cited By

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