How diversity is viewed in homogeneous communities and what impact this has on decision-making related to curriculum

Abstract

This phenomenological study examines teacher perceptions of diversity, specifically the relationship between perceptions derived from teachers' lived experiences, and the impact of these in shaping their decision-making when creating and designing curriculum. It is a qualitative study conducted utilizing the interview technique, framed by Bourdieu's Social Field Theory as applied to educational studies. Participants were core curriculum teachers from a junior high school setting in a homogeneous community. Findings indicated that there was a connection between lived experience and decision-making, as well as other factors that contributed to this phenomenon, and a key finding was the importance of establishing common ground between diverse groups. Keywords: diversity, lived experiences, homogeneous, common ground