Introduction: From critique to new scripts and possibilities in teacher education

Down, B. and Smyth, J. (2012) Introduction: From critique to new scripts and possibilities in teacher education. In: Down, B. and Smyth, J., (eds.) Critical Voices in Teacher Education. Springer, Dordrecht, Netherlands, pp. 1-9.

Abstract

This book is about the stories of teacher educators committed to pursuing social justice in teacher education. It draws on the struggles of those who have taught about issues of social justice within universities, their accumulated knowledge and their practices in classrooms. The purpose of the book is to provide a space where teacher educators can deconstruct their own pedagogies, empower individuals to develop critical consciousness, and inspire a future generation of teachers to engage in social justice activism. To this end, the book provides some insights into the daily realities of critical teaching in conservative times (Brookfield, 2005; Kincheloe, Slattery, & Steinberg, 2000; Shor, 1992).