ERIC Number: EJ1469016
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1359 6748
EISSN: EISSN-1747-5112
Available Date: 0000-00-00
The World Is Not a Stage: Primary Initial Teacher Education in Faith Settings through the Navigation of Dissonance and Negotiation of Faith Identity
Research in Post-Compulsory Education, v30 n1 p225-248 2025
This paper examines the potential causes of dissonance amongst primary trainee teachers while undertaking teacher training placements in faith settings. The positioning of this research extends beyond teacher education indicating a significant need to unravel the tensions that exist in a multicultural yet fragmented society. Faith, identity and religious beliefs, in relation to Bourdieu's notion of habitus, are considered as factors which influence student decision-making processes. This small scale case-study provides in-depth understanding of the experiences of primary trainee teachers. Four Primary Initial Teacher Training Education (PITTE) students were selected through purposive sampling, based on the varying stages of the students' training course as well as ethnicity and religious backgrounds, to participate in semi-structured interviews. The results indicated clear dissonance attributed to the overarching themes of identity negotiation, fundamental differences in faith settings and marginalisation. The subthemes were around perceptions that faith settings do not sufficiently prepare pupils for a multicultural and diverse world and a lack of knowledge about the operational practices of different faith settings. The study also indicated that Muslim trainees experienced the strongest dissonance and there are several recommendations suggested, through which institutions can support trainees to manage their dissonance more effectively.
Descriptors: Elementary School Teachers, Preservice Teachers, Student Teaching, Religious Factors, Religious Schools, Beliefs, Self Concept, Psychological Patterns, Political Issues, Diversity, Student Attitudes, Foreign Countries, Minority Groups, Social Bias
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
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Elementary Education; Higher Education; Postsecondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: United Kingdom (England)
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Department of Education, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK