"We treat them all the same, but…". Disappearing ethnic homogeneity in Czech classrooms and teachers' responses

JARKOVSKÁ, Lucie, Kateřina LIŠKOVÁ and Jana OBROVSKÁ. "We treat them all the same, but…". Disappearing ethnic homogeneity in Czech classrooms and teachers' responses. Race Ethnicity and Education. 2015, vol. 18, No 5, p. 632-654. ISSN 1361-3324. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2015.1013457.

Basic information

• Original name: "We treat them all the same, but…". Disappearing ethnic homogeneity in Czech classrooms and teachers' responses
• Name in Czech: "We treat them all the same, but…". Disappearing ethnic homogeneity in Czech classrooms and teachers' responses
• Authors: JARKOVSKÁ, Lucie (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution), Kateřina LIŠKOVÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution) and Jana OBROVSKÁ (203 Czech Republic, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Race Ethnicity and Education, 2015, 1361-3324.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 50301 Education, general; including training, pedagogy, didactics [and education systems]
• Country of publisher: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• Impact factor: Impact factor: 0.935
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/15:00081023
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13613324.2015.1013457
• UT WoS: 000356666200003
• Keywords (in Czech): etnická rozmanitost; žáci z etnických menšin; vzdělávání; názory učitelů; sociální znevýhodnění
• Keywords in English: ethnic diversity; pupils from ethnic minorities; education; teachers ’ perceptions; social disadvantage
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

This article argues that the Czech education system is structured to oper- ate in an ethnically homogeneous society. Although the Czech Republic is becoming increasingly heterogeneous, teachers deploy discursive practices of sameness despite difference that obscure such growing diversity. This article is grounded in the historical context of migration to and from the Czech Republic and based on ethnographic research in several ethnically-mixed classrooms. We analyze the ways in which teachers talk about their pupils. We show that in the case of migrant children, teachers tend not to see their differences and hence, their potentially structural disadvantages. On the other hand, the Roma ethnicity is perceived as insurmountable. Teachers mobilize lists of cul- tural and even genetic differences to legitimize their different treatment of Roma pupils. Furthermore, we analyze policy documents regarding the education of non-Czech pupils and their reception by teachers. All these strategies result in the continuing perception of Czech classrooms as ethnically homogeneous while disregarding any social inequalities.

Abstract (in Czech)

This article argues that the Czech education system is structured to oper- ate in an ethnically homogeneous society. Although the Czech Republic is becoming increasingly heterogeneous, teachers deploy discursive practices of sameness despite difference that obscure such growing diversity. This article is grounded in the historical context of migration to and from the Czech Republic and based on ethnographic research in several ethnically-mixed classrooms. We analyze the ways in which teachers talk about their pupils. We show that in the case of migrant children, teachers tend not to see their differences and hence, their potentially structural disadvantages. On the other hand, the Roma ethnicity is perceived as insurmountable. Teachers mobilize lists of cul- tural and even genetic differences to legitimize their different treatment of Roma pupils. Furthermore, we analyze policy documents regarding the education of non-Czech pupils and their reception by teachers. All these strategies result in the continuing perception of Czech classrooms as ethnically homogeneous while disregarding any social inequalities.

Links

• GAP404/12/1487, research and development project: Name: Vzdělávací strategie dětí migrantů a dětí z etnických menšin (Acronym: MOPED)

Investor: Czech Science Foundation