It seems like an unruly quest to investigate teacher diversity as the neverending foci are accompanied by even more questions. This symposium takes up the challenge of scrutinising understandings of diversity related to teachers, teacher identity, and the teaching profession across Europe. With a focus on accessibility and “pass-ability” as well as availability, the presentations in the symposium will pick up possible notions of the concepts of “passing as a teacher” (Weber & Mitchell 2002), “to pass to become a teacher (again)”, how notions of passing have (not) changed over time and how practices of dis/abling teacher diversity manifest themselves in different (national) contexts. (Krause et al. 2023). The presentations will discuss how understandings of the academic realm, education policies and notions and practices of equity shape the possibility of getting access to, passing barriers and avoiding obstacles in, and successfully completing study programs.

Krause, S., Proyer, M. & Kremsner, G. (2023). The Making of Teachers in the Age of Migration: Critical Perspectives on the Politics of Education for Refugees, Immigrants and Minorities. Bloomsbury Academic. Weber, S. J., & Mitchell, C. (2002). That's funny you don't look like a teacher!: Interrogating images, identity, and popular culture. Routledge.