“What Do You Need a Course Like That for?” Conceptualizing Diverse Ruralities in Rural Teacher Education

Abstract

This article examined preservice teachers discourse models of diversity in a rural context. We explored the perceptions of diversity among preservice teachers at a rural university as they were asked to problematize simplistic notions of rurality in a semester-long diversity course titled “Teaching Culturally Diverse Learners” in teacher education. Considering the complexities of preparing preservice teachers to address the needs of all students, we argue that preservice teachers must engage rurality as dynamic, rather than homogeneous, White, and nondiverse. Data from student coursework and post-course interviews were analyzed using grounded theory. Findings suggest that rural preservice teachers discourse models of diversity have the potential to shift from dominant to counter-hegemonic when given context-sensitive opportunities to unpack identity and diversity beyond Whiteness. Implications propose the development of pedagogies reflective of complex diverse ruralities offers critical opportunity to prepare future teachers to embrace equity across geographies in their future profession.