the invisible whole Schools and the development of national identity in young children

Schools and the development of national identity in young children

Research Proposal To investigate the process by which schools in Singapore help young children develop national identity. To study how children make meaning of their experiences in school as they begin to think of themselves as citizens. To investigate whether teachers see a role for themselves in this national identity development process.

To investigate the process by which schools in Singapore help young children develop national identity.

To study how children make meaning of their experiences in school as they begin to think of themselves as citizens.

To investigate whether teachers see a role for themselves in this national identity development process.

Existing scholarship Nationalism and national identity formation Citizenship education The role of schools in nation-building Political socialization Identity formation in young children

Nationalism and national identity formation

Citizenship education

The role of schools in nation-building

Political socialization

Identity formation in young children

Why national identity and young children?

The work of Robert Coles “... is to the stories that children have to tell what Homer was to the tale of the Trojan War.”

“... is to the stories that children have to tell what Homer was to the tale of the Trojan War.”

Why Singapore? Fairly young nation Rapidly globalizing and modernizing Multi-racial; multi-ethnic; multi-cultural Centralized national education system Implemented National Education Program

Fairly young nation

Rapidly globalizing and modernizing

Multi-racial; multi-ethnic; multi-cultural

Centralized national education system

Implemented National Education Program

Next Steps Expand and consolidate literature review Develop interview protocol and measures (both teachers and students) Pilot study Refine instruments Data collection

Expand and consolidate literature review

Develop interview protocol and measures (both teachers and students)

Pilot study

Refine instruments

Data collection

the end .