Multilingual Nations, Monolingual Schools
Confronting Colonial Language Policies Across the Americas

Nicholas Limerick (Edited by), Jamie L. Schissel (Edited by), Mario López-Gopar (Edited by), Vilma Huerta Cordova (Edited by)

9780807786109

Paperback / softback, published 22 November 2024

224 pages
22.9 x 15.6 x 1.2 cm, 0.335 kg

The effects of colonialism in education and society have deep and difficult legacies. This book argues that it is necessary to better understand the deep roots of colonialism in order to realize justice and overturn forms of oppression in education policy, in classrooms, or in family and community-based education. Highlighting research from across Abya-Yala with examples from various parts of North, Central, and South America, chapter authors explore the ways that colonialism manifests in current educational policy and practice; how this happens through language use and communication; and, by starting locally, what comparisons can be gained across different cases across the continent. This volume examines forms of communication and knowledge--such as Indigenous and/or colonial languages, standardized testing, and institutionally sanctioned forms of literacy--and seeks to historicize, provide further context, look at other cases, and follow encouraging examples with the goal of interrupting colonial trajectories.