Abstract
There is a scarcity of research in contemporary rural studies in Canada, particularly pertaining to education. Discrepancies exist in definitions of rural and rurality. What is the meaning of rural, and how do educators define their teaching praxes? This study explores how one music teacher negotiates her role identity in a rural setting through the conceptual framework of sense of place, and how ‘place’ influences her education praxis. Grounded in the narrative methodological perspectives of Connelly and Clandinin (2006), this study investigates the lived experiences of one educator from a place-based lens. Findings indicate that a place-based curriculum may highlight positive aspects of rural areas, address shortcomings, and encourage rural youth to return to their rural roots.
Highlights
There is a scarcity of research in contemporary rural studies in Canada, pertaining to education
I still maintain some attachment to the urban space of my early years, my music teaching career and immediate family have grounded me in my rural area
‘Place’ plays a very important part in my life, as it may for many others, for while my personal space holds sentimental value, my rural setting aligns me with family, friends and my community
Summary
There is a scarcity of research in contemporary rural studies in Canada, pertaining to education. This study explores how one music teacher negotiates her role identity in a rural setting through the conceptual framework of sense of place, and how ‘place’ influences her education praxis. Through every window in my home and at my school I see some indication that I live in the country, whether it be fields of crops, large farm machinery traveling down the road, or the big yellow school bus stopping at the end of each family’s lane to pick the children up and deliver them to the rural school where I teach music, as I have done for the past 30 years. I still maintain some attachment to the urban space of my early years, my music teaching career and immediate family have grounded me in my rural area. ‘Place’ plays a very important part in my life, as it may for many others, for while my personal space holds sentimental value, my rural setting aligns me with family, friends and my community. Some people may become attached to a particular place and establish an identity with it, holding certain traditions, rituals and habits, developing a strong satisfaction and salient attachment to place
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