Youth Activism in an Era of Education Inequality

by Ben Kirshner

Overview

Winner, 2016 Best Authored Book presented by the Society for Research on Adolescence

Diverse case studies on how youth build political power during an era of racial and educational inequality in America

This is what democracy looks like: Youth organizers in Colorado negotiate new school discipline policies to end the school to jail track. Latino and African American students march to district headquarters to protest high school closure. Young immigration rights activists persuade state legislators to pass a bill to make in-state tuition available to undocumented state residents. Students in an ESL class collect survey data revealing the prevalence of racism and xenophobia.

These examples, based on ten years of research by youth development scholar Ben Kirshner, show young people building political power during an era of racial inequality, diminished educational opportunity, and an atrophied public square. The book’s case studies analyze what these experiences mean for young people and why they are good for democracy. What is youth activism and how does it contribute to youth development? How might collective movements of young people expand educational opportunity and participatory democracy? The interdependent relationship between youths’ political engagement, their personal development, and democratic renewal is the central focus of this book. Kirshner argues that youth and societal institutions are strengthened when young people, particularly those most disadvantaged by educational inequity, turn their critical gaze to education systems and participate in efforts to improve them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781479861316
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	06/05/2015
Series:	Qualitative Studies in Psychology , #2
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.20(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Ben Kirshner is Associate Professor of Education at the University of Colorado Boulder. He is also Faculty Director of CU Engage: Center for Civic Learning and Public Research, whose mission is to work collaboratively with students, staff, faculty, and community groups to address complex public challenges.

Table of Contents

Contents

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction 1

Part I. How Activism Contributes to Human Development and Democratic Renewal

1. Critique and Collective Agency in Youth Development 23

2. Millennial Youth and the Fight for Opportunity 53

3. “Not Down with the Shut Down”: Student Activism against School Closure 83

Part II. learning ecologies of youth activism

4. Teaching without Teaching 107

5. Schools as Sites of Struggle: Critical Civic Inquiry 134

Conclusion: Activism, Dignity, and Human Development 163

Methodological Appendix 185

Notes 201

Bibliography 213

Index 233

About the Author 237

Editorial Reviews

"Provides a powerfully rich analysis of youth activism, and youth participatory research across a variety of settings. Kirshners brilliant analysis sheds light into the dark and complicated corners of youth engagement and political action. This book is a must read for researchers and practitioners searching for fresh analysis and innovative insights into youth civic activism and engagement."

Shawn A. Ginwright

"[A]ll facets of youth activism are meticulously studied, analyzed, and interpreted using qualitative psychology research, with its case studies intertwined throughout...[I]ts solid research base seems essential for those seeking current analyses and data regarding student activism before beginning similar programs."

VOYA

"[M]any of the ideas are worth reiterating to a new generation of teachers and researchers. Educating youth to be active participants in social change and proactively engaging them in exploring and defining their own values are inherently valuable regardless of the era or the political climate."

PsycCRITIQUES

"Kirshner provides a well-organized, thought provoking analysis of the effects of sociopolitical development on youth in a time of inequality. The purpose of his book is to provide the reader with insight as to how youth development effects societal change. Kirshner expresses the dire need to provide youth with a voice and how this voice becomes a catalyst for change. The text provides narratives of students who participated in youth led organizations that began to make societal changes in their schools. In addition to these narratives, the reader gets the privilege of learning about many different youth led campaigns that came about from the inability of youth to have a voice. The book particularly examines ways in which fostering sociopolitical development in youth brings about societal change. This text delivers exactly what it is supposed to."

Journal of Youth and Adolescence

"Persuades us that schools would improve and societies benefit if we heard the voices of youth, who are typically left out of public conversations. Listen closely as they explain why they are organizing for equal education.-"

Connie Flanagan

"Provides a powerfully rich analysis of youth activism, and youth participatory research across a variety of settings. Kirshner’s brilliant analysis sheds light into the dark and complicated corners of youth engagement and political action. This book is a must read for researchers and practitioners searching for fresh analysis and innovative insights into youth civic activism and engagement."-Shawn A. Ginwright,San Francisco State University

From the Publisher