TY - JOUR
T1 - Narrative inquiry into (re)imagining alternative schools
T2 - A case study of Kevin Gonzales
AU - Kim, Jeong Hee
PY - 2011/1
Y1 - 2011/1
N2 - Although there are many alternative schools that strive for the successful education of their students, negative images of alternative schools persist. While some alternative schools are viewed as 'idealistic havens', many are viewed as 'dumping grounds' or 'juvenile detention centers'. Employing narrative inquiry, this article interrogates how a student, Kevin Gonzales, experiences his alternative education and raises questions about the role of alternative schools. Kevin Gonzales's story is presented in a literary form of biographical journal to provide a 'metaphoric loft' that helps us imagine other students like Kevin. This, in turn, provokes us to examine our current educational practice and (re)imagines ways in which alternative education can provide the best possible educational experiences for disenfranchised students who are increasingly underserved by the public education system.
AB - Although there are many alternative schools that strive for the successful education of their students, negative images of alternative schools persist. While some alternative schools are viewed as 'idealistic havens', many are viewed as 'dumping grounds' or 'juvenile detention centers'. Employing narrative inquiry, this article interrogates how a student, Kevin Gonzales, experiences his alternative education and raises questions about the role of alternative schools. Kevin Gonzales's story is presented in a literary form of biographical journal to provide a 'metaphoric loft' that helps us imagine other students like Kevin. This, in turn, provokes us to examine our current educational practice and (re)imagines ways in which alternative education can provide the best possible educational experiences for disenfranchised students who are increasingly underserved by the public education system.
KW - Alternative education
KW - Biographical journal
KW - Narrative inquiry
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78651068820&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09518390903468321
DO - 10.1080/09518390903468321
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:78651068820
SN - 0951-8398
VL - 24
SP - 77
EP - 96
JO - International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
JF - International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education
IS - 1
ER -