A critical account of what “geography” means to primary trainee teachers in England

ABSTRACT

Research on trainee teachers’ conceptions of geography has criticised their views for being limited, and failing to appreciate the breadth or depth of geography. A body of research in this area has developed over the past two decades, producing well-established classifications through which to analyse conceptions of geography. This contribution breaks from these classifications by offering a critical review of the existing literature and then, drawing on critical theory, distinguishing between geography as knowing, understanding, and acting. Findings from a survey of first year undergraduate primary trainee teachers (n = 42) are analysed through this critical framework, and it is argued that there is a distinct Cartesian duality in the way that respondents see the world as an object of study for learners as cognising subjects. This is argued to be problematic and, in response, a moral vision for school geography is outlined that represents geography in terms of a critical praxis.

KEYWORDS:

• Primary geography
• primary teachers
• conceptions
• initial teacher education

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to our trainee teachers for contributing to the data used in this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.