Political progressives in Canada and the United States are deeply
concerned by the manner in which their countries treat their poor. They
are dismayed at the dismantling of the social welfare state, the
weakening of public education systems and the grotesque and ever-growing
inequality of wealth. To remedy this problem, citizens need to be more
aware of how political ideology influences attitudes and actions, and
they need to better comprehend the effects of hegemonic discourses in
the corporate media and school curriculum. This book informs educators
how to develop context-specific pedagogy that will help achieve a more
enlightened citizenry and, as a result, a stronger democracy.
Teaching about Hegemony: Race, Class and Democracy in the
21st Century promotes a progressive agenda for teaching that
is rooted in critical pedagogy, it explains why ideological critique is
necessary in raising political consciousness, it deconstructs white,
middle-class hegemony in the formal school curriculum, and it examines
corporate media and school curriculum as hegemonic devices. It also
covers recent theory and research about race, class and democracy and
how best to teach about these topics. Combining theory and sociological
research with pedagogical approaches and classroom narratives, this book
is fundamental for progressive educators interested in developing a
politically conscious, progressive and active citizenry hungry for a
stronger civil society.