Keeping the Peace: Social Justice Unionism in a Canadian Context

Authors

  • Cindy Rottmann OISE/University of Toronto

Keywords:

teacher unions, teacher activism, anti-racism

Abstract

In this paper I argue that the liberal white fantasy of civility , held deeply by many Canadians is precisely the condition that works against the possibility of anti-racist activism within the context of our organizations. I do this in the spirit of supporting meaningful anti-racist activism on the part of Canadian teachers’ unions—a goal that I believe cannot be achieved until we face up to our complicity in educational racism. My argument is based on an analysis—through a combined conceptual lens focusing on race, nationalism and knowledge production—of four keynote addresses given at an event I attended in the spring of 2007 sponsored by a Canadian teachers’ organization.

Author Biography

Cindy Rottmann, OISE/University of Toronto

Cindy Rottmann is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Theory and Policy Studies at OISE/University of Toronto. Her research interests include teacher unionism, critical theory, and educational leadership.

Downloads

Published

2009-02-28

Issue

Vol. 1 No. 2 (2009)

Section

Position Paper/Essai

License

  • Manuscripts submitted to CJNSE/RCJCÉ must be original work that has not been published elsewhere, nor is currently being considered for publication elsewhere. The author should confirm this in the cover letter sent with the manuscript.
  • Articles that are published within the CJNSE/RCJCÉ must not be published elsewhere, in whole or part, for one year after publication.
  • Copyright for articles published in this journal is retained by the authors, with first publication rights granted to the journal. By virtue of their appearance in this open access journal, articles are free to use, with proper attribution, in educational and other non-commercial settings. Granting the CJNSE/RCJCÉ first publication rights must be in the cover letter sent with the manuscript.
  • If the manuscript contains copyrighted materials, the author should note this in the cover letter sent with the manuscript, and indicate when letters of permission will be forwarded to the Editor.
  • If the manuscript reports on research with “human subjects,” the author should include a statement in the cover letter that ethics approval has been received for the research, indicating the granting body and protocol number if applicable.
  • Authors are encouraged to use language that is inclusive and culturally sensitive.