Myths of monoculturalism: narratively claiming the other. Issue 9 (20th October 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dennis, Barbara
• Is Part Of: International journal of qualitative studies in education. Volume 29:Issue 9(2016)
• Page Start: 1069
• Page End: 1085
• Publication Date: 2016-10-20
• Subjects: Critical ethnography -- narrative and myth -- ESL -- ENL -- multiculturalism -- schooling -- new language learners; Education -- Research -- Periodicals; Éducation -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'éducation -- Méthodes qualitatives -- Périodiques; 370.72
• DOI: 10.1080/09518398.2016.1201161
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-8398

Abstract

Abstract: This paper reports on monocultural education narratives associated with marginalizing newcomer English-as-a-New-Language learners and their families. These narratives emerged through a three-year long critical ethnography in the schools of a Midwest town (Unityville). The collective, social stories emerged as 'story seeds' through interviews and positioned the storytellers as knowledgeable in relation to the newcomer others. The stories reproduced monocultural myths about the school itself and privileged the storytellers and those with whom they identified. The primary analytic tool was reconstructive horizon analysis through which four main stories were articulated. All of them involved a myth of monoculturalism: 'When my grandfather came here …, ' 'Latinos are the new blacks, ' 'Sink or swim, ' and 'Go home.' The Self/Other relations of the monocultural myths will be articulated and the way the collective stories structure those relations will be examined.