White preservice music educators’ perceptions of teaching predominantly Black student populations in city schools

Abstract

ABSTRACT The purpose of this research was to explore how five White preservice teachers described working with predominantly Black student populations in city school music classrooms. Participants with prior K-12 school music experience in primarily White public and private school settings were assigned to student teaching placements in a city school district in the United States. Using critical race theory as a framework, this study focused on three research questions: (1) How do participants’ life experiences influence the way they think about teaching racialised student populations? (2) How do participants’ student teaching experiences with racialized populations shape their views of music education? and (3) How do participants’ student teaching experiences influence their desire to teach in city schools? Findings suggest the participants had a limited understanding of White privilege and did not recognise racial inequalities in American public-school education. And while participants felt better prepared to teach in a city school classroom with a predominantly Black student population, none expressed a strong desire to work in these settings after completing their student teaching experience.