ABSTRACT
This chapter introduces and defines normativity as a key concept in curriculum. It takes the stance that teaching is enculturation, asks that educators be conscious of their role in this project, understand their impact in the classroom, and recognize that knowledge is never innocent. The chapter asks What is normal and who decides? and challenges the scientific medical view. It traces the history of LGBTQ rights as an example of the ways perceptions of “normality” can shift and addresses the dilemmas teachers in classrooms face surrounding conceptions of normal, abnormal, and difference. Assessment and inclusivity are further addressed as issues relating to normativity and curriculum. This introduction to the concept of normativity in curriculum theory is accompanied by personal reflections on the key concept from two individuals who further explore the relevance of narrative in teaching and learning. The chapter concludes with some suggested discussion questions for use in curriculum studies courses and by curriculum theory students.
