Date of Award
Summer 2025
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Transformative Education and Social Change
Committee Chairperson
John Elmore, PhD
Committee Member
Jason Wozniak, PhD
Committee Member
Dana Morrison, PhD
Abstract
The research explores how extracurricular activities support holistic development and address barriers, especially for students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds or with disabilities, using social reproduction theory and educational philosophies. It highlights how extracurriculars foster cognitive, social, and emotional growth but are often inaccessible due to financial, logistical, and instructional challenges. The study also examines teacher burnout and dehumanization, providing a historical view of extracurriculars in American schools, analyzing current policies, and considering how technology impacts student engagement. It proposes a transformative framework combining adventure, place-based, and transformative learning, advocating for integrating activities into school hours to enhance access, equity, and teacher well-being. The plan includes community workshops to advocate for these reforms, emphasizing the need for systematic changes for inclusive, balanced education that benefits students, teachers, and promotes social justice.
Recommended Citation
Wrightstone, Makenzie, "Accessible Extracurriculars Without Teacher Exploitation" (2025). West Chester University Master’s Theses. 356.
https://digitalcommons.wcupa.edu/all_theses/356
Included in
Accessibility Commons, Curriculum and Social Inquiry Commons, Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Commons