History teachers’ thinking on citizenship and the inclusion of the student mobilizations into their teaching

Abstract

Chilean secondary students participate actively in student mobilizations. This research study explored the relationship between teachers’ opinions on citizenship and the inclusion of the topic of students’ mobilizations into their teaching practice. A survey was given to 152 secondary history teachers throughout the country. Results indicate that (a) a majority of teachers included the issue of the students’ mobilizations in their lectures; (b) there was a relationship between the teacher appreciation of the students’ mobilizations and the inclusion of this matter in their teaching; and (c) this appreciation, in turn, is associated with the teachers’ theoretical support to a collective vision of citizenship. The focus on the importance of teachers’ perspectives, in this study, is considered and promoted as a valuable pedagogic resource for the inclusion of issues that are relevant to students.