“Good Teachers” with “Good Intentions”: Misappropriations of Culturally Responsive Pedagogy

This conceptual work examines the misappropriation of culturally responsive pedagogy by identifying ways in which misappropriations commonly occur in urban teaching and learning environments. They include culturally responsive practices as a smokescreen of good intentions, culture as a hook to gain students’ attention, and culturally responsive pedagogy as a tool of assimilation. As teacher educators, we see a need to critically examine pedagogical approaches to specifically identify the perpetuation of historical inaccuracies, harmful stereotypes, and masks of good intentions. Three premises are proposed that reflect a commitment to defining and identifying culturally responsive teacher education practices.