Against Race- And Class-Based Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education

This book examines differing classroom pedagogies in two early childhood programs serving vulnerable populations in Chicago, one program Reggio Emilia-inspired, while the other uses a more didactic pedagogy. The structure of classroom pedagogies is defined using Basil Bernstein's theories of visible and invisible pedagogy.

“"In descriptive style, Smith uses direct classroom observations to bring to life some of the mechanisms by which the less visible curricula of a progressive approach can be successfully implemented with low-income minority children. This timely book revives still-relevant questions, while echoing findings of curriculum comparison studies of the 1960s and 1970s that demonstrated the effectiveness of using child-initiated, non-didactic approaches in high-poverty preschool settings. A must-read catalyst for expanding this important and unfinished conversation." - Kristen Kemple, Professor of Early Childhood Studies, University of Florida, USA”

Stephanie C. Smith is Assistant Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, USA.

Against Race- and Class-Based Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education is a case study of two Chicago early childhood programs, both serving high-need populations. One program is Reggio Emilia-inspired, using a fully emergent curriculum, natural environmental elements, and investigative learning. It is a program philosophy much more common in affluent private preschools in the United States than in programs serving poor children. The comparison school uses a more traditional didactic pedagogy typical of schools serving high-need populations. Smith's study draws from several months of classroom observation, teacher and parent interviews, and child assessments. Smith uses Basil Bernstein's theories of pedagogy and social control, particularly with regard to visible and invisible pedagogies, to understand the differing classroom practices in the two schools and to consider the effectiveness for their vulnerable populations.

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