Towards equity literacy: exploratory enquiry with Finnish student teachers

Abstract

ABSTRACT Equity-centred teacher education recognises the dual challenge of preparing teachers to support the learning of all students while encouraging future teachers to recognise and challenge societal systems reproducing inequity. The paper focuses on analysing Finnish student teachers’ perceptions of teachers’ skills related to diversity and equity. The data are drawn from written individual and group assignments completed during three master’s level courses in home economics teacher education. A qualitative content analysis of students’ assignments present student teachers’ collaboratively produced understanding of teachers’ diversity skills. Their self-assessment of both professional strengths and areas of development are evaluated against Paul Gorski’s equity literacy framework. The findings are suggestive of a relatively strong cultural self-awareness and response-ability related to learner diversity. More attention should be given to unfolding structural inequities to enable future teachers to develop the equity literacy necessary to create and sustain equitable learning environments.