A Comparative Oral History Study of the Learning Experiences of World War Ii and Afghan War Survivors
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A COMPARATIVE ORAL HISTORY STUDY OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES OF WORLD WAR II AND AFGHAN WAR SURVIVORS by Julia Dicum A thesis submitted in conformity with the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Ontario Institute for Studies in Education of the University of Toronto © Copyright by Julia Dicum (2008) Library and Bibliotheque et 1*1 Archives Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de I'edition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Ottawa ON K1A0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-39804-3 Our file Notre reference ISBN: 978-0-494-39804-3 NOTICE: AVIS: The author has granted a non L'auteur a accorde une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library permettant a la Bibliotheque et Archives and Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par telecommunication ou par Plntemet, prefer, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des theses partout dans loan, distribute and sell theses le monde, a des fins commerciales ou autres, worldwide, for commercial or non sur support microforme, papier, electronique commercial purposes, in microform, et/ou autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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Canada A COMPARATIVE ORAL HISTORY STUDY OF THE LEARNING EXPERIENCES OF WORLD WAR II AND AFGHAN WAR SURVIVORS Doctor of Philosophy (2008) Julia Dicum Department of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning University of Toronto Abstract This dissertation presents the findings of a comparative oral history study of twenty-seven learner experiences of education in two complex emergencies -- World War II and post-1979 Afghanistan. Built around an oral history methodology, the study contributes to the developing research practice on education in emergency situations. The dissertation begins with a review of the literature on emergency education, which identifies a gap of learner experience expressed in or contributing to the discourse. Each of the case studies describes curriculum experiences in these war environments focusing on learner experiences of school and classroom routine, materials, teachers and teaching methods in both formal and non-formal learning including using primary, secondary, post-secondary, apprenticeship, paid work as learning environments. The analysis within and between the cases brings forth crucial similarities and differences in five analytical categories which arose through the transcripts, but which also match discussion in the existing literature: maintenance, adaptation, resilience, politicization/resistance, and identity. The tensions that arise between the five themes offer an unresolved sense of normalcy and chaos as central to the image of learning in emergencies. The small size of the participant base, while offering a rich opportunity for the gathering of detailed histories, did not lend itself to applying the outcomes rigorously to existing policy and program reports or theoretical treatises. The dissertation therefore concludes with recommendations for expanding the scope of research through the use of oral history in further comparative studies on education in complex emergencies. Recommendations include expanding research on these two case studies, the permanent archiving of recorded oral histories for use by others, more research on learner experience in different cases to build knowledge and further develop the five characteristics, using the outcomes u of the research to influence the development of emergency education curriculum theory, education in emergencies policy and program development. in Acknowledgements Foremost I thank my supervisor Dennis Thiessen and the rest of my committee, Joe Farrell, Shahrzad Mojab, and Sarfaroz Niyozov, for their work and support. I also thank Lynn Davies for being an inspiring external examiner. OISE's efforts to have Lynn attend in person were deeply appreciated. I was lucky to have many academic mentors determined to see me through to the end. Special mention goes to: the late David N. Wilson, my stalwart Jason Nolan, Lucille Gilbert and my undergraduate mentor, Donald Schwartz, who paid me the ultimate complement by surprising me as chair my defense. Thanks to those individuals and organizations that helped me advertise the study, but which remain nameless here to protect my participants. I was also appreciative of those who made me look good with transcribing and editing assistance. Robarts Library and the Ottawa Public Library reaffirmed the importance of libraries for me. The Comparative International Development Education Centre at OISE/UT and The Centre for Refugee Studies at York University provided me with space to bounce ideas off students and faculty. The other two members of my PhD completion trio - Bruce Collet and James Cowan - were perfect companions for the post-comps road. My family, friends, and colleagues played a pivotal role plying me with humour, housing, and copious amounts of tea throughout this yeoman's effort. Finally, I cannot thank my twenty-seven participants enough for trusting me with their oral histories. This thesis was funded in part by a SSHRC Doctoral Fellowship. IV CONTENTS ABSTRACT II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ., IV SECTION I: LEARNING, WAR, AND EMERGENCIES: THE STUDY OF THE LEARNER'S PERSPECTIVE 1 CHAPTER 1: 1 FRAMING THE ISSUES IN EMERGENCY EDUCATION 1 The Background 2 Background Literature from "the practical" 5 ...to the Theoretical. 12 Curriculum Experiences in the Dialogue on Emergency Education 17 Five Curriculum Experience Themes on Learning During War 21 Introducing The Research Method 26 Oral History Methodology 26 Choosing Cases and Participants: World War 11 and Afghanistan 27 Structure of the Dissertation 29 Conclusion 29 CHAPTER 2: ORAL HISTORY METHODOLOGY IN THE COMPARATIVE STUDY OF EDUCATION DURING WAR AND CONFLICT 31 Putting the Discourse Into Action: Finding a Research Methodology 32 The Challenges of Research in War and Conflict 35 Choosing Oral History for the Research Methodology 38 Oral History Methodology in Comparative International Education 44 Developing and Implementing the Study 46 Choosing the Communities 47 Choosing Participants 49 Designing the Oral History Interview 53 Conducting the Interviews 55 Information Management and Analysis 61 The Writing Process 68 Conclusion 71 SECTION II: THE CHILDREN OF WORLD WAR II LOOK BACK: LEARNING FROM AND IN SCHOOLS, BOMB SHELTERS, GHETTOS, HIDING, AND DP CAMPS 73 CHAPTER 3: .. 73 INTRODUCTION: 73 SETTING THE CONTEXTS OF LEARNING AMONG THE CHILDREN OF WORLD WAR II 73 Participants 76 Background: Pre-War Education Curriculum 81 Conclusion 85 CHAPTER4: 1939-1945: LEARNING AT THE HEIGHT OF THE WAR 87 Eastern European Memories 88 Primary School 88 Secondary School 93 Post-Secondary School , 104 The War in School 108 Learning Opportunities for Jewish Learners 115 German Children's Memories 123 Conclusion 129 CHAPTER 5: 131 1945-1952: 131 LEARNING IMMEDIATELY "POST-WAR" 131 Learning in the British and American Zones 132 Primary and Secondary Learning in the DP Camps of Germany 133 V DPs' Post-secondary Learning in Germany and Austria , 140 German Memories 144 Learning in Soviet Occupied Countries to 1953 146 Conclusion 152 CHAPTER 6: .' 154 SYNTHESIS OF LEARNING DURING WORLD WAR II 154 Maintenance of Learning Across the National Contexts 154 Maintenance of Familiar Learning Curricula .....,, ,. 155 The Roles of Teachers and Mentors in the Classroom 156 Adaptation 157 Resilience/Tenaciousness 161 Politicization and Resistance 163 Politicization and Political Resistance 163 Learner Resistance in the Classroom 167 Identity Issues 168 Conclusion 171 SECTION III: ONE CORNER OF THE CARPET: LEARNING AND SURVIVING DURING CONFLICT IN AFGHANISTAN 174 CHAPTER 7: 174 SETTING THE CONTEXT OF AFGHAN LEARNING 174 The Participants 175 The Structure of Formal Education In Afghanistan 179 Conclusion 183 CHAPTER 8: 185 LEARNING IN CONFLICT RIDDEN AFGHANISTAN: 185 1978 - C. 2001 185 Primary Education School Routines 185 Secondary Education: 195 School Routines Breaking Down 195 Classroom Life in Primary and Secondary Schools 200 Post-secondary Education 205 War and Violence in School 214 Conclusion 217 CHAPTER 9: 218 AFGHAN LEARNING IN REFUGEE CONTEXTS 218 School-based Education in the Refugee Context 218 Pakistan 219 The Afghan private system 220 Afghans in the Pakistani system 223 Post-secondary education 232 Adult Education 233 Iran 235 Home education 235 Secondary education 236 Post-secondary education 238 Learning Through