Enacting Civic-Minded Early Childhood Pedagogy in the Context of Chauvinistic Education Legislation

Amid efforts to limit “divisive concepts” in educational settings, this article investigates the obstruction of a civic-focused early childhood curriculum. Joy Dangora Erickson and Winston Thompson analyze the challenges faced by a resourceful kindergarten teacher striving to uphold curriculum goals despite constraints imposed by the state legislature. Through an empirically informed exploration of political and pedagogical factors, this conceptual analysis elucidates the moral complexities of risks, costs, and outcomes as educators navigate non-ideal political conditions. By doing so, the authors provide valuable insights to scholars and practitioners, suggesting productive avenues for future research on these and related dilemmas of practice.