Sociopolitics is important in education, especially in British Columbia, because of the multicultural, diverse communities that form our schools. Allistair Pennycook (2000), in The Sociopolitics of English Language Teaching, claims that "classrooms are sociopolitical spaces that exist in a complex relationship to the world outside." Classrooms are indeed complex places that need to consider each person and where they come from. Concepts of race, religion, language, political views, age, gender, socioeconomic status, and many more, play into how the classroom community functions. The strongest classrooms create spaces of acceptance and welcome diversity. Learning about sociopolitics and how to address topics that may cause tension will help teachers create a better community and allow for valuable learning to take place.
Further Resources:
Article Resource: The Talking Stick
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How can teachers display culturally responsive techniques outside the classroom?
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What steps can a ELL specialist teacher take to foster this type of environment?
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