Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development
Around 3.3 million young people are trafficked worldwide, with over half subjected to sexual exploitation (Data and Research on Forced Labour, 2024). However, little research exists on the role of school-based educators in learning about, preventing, and identifying human trafficking. This study ex...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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University of Alberta
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education |
| Online Access: | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29679 |
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| author | Jason Abram Kelli Rushek |
| author_facet | Jason Abram Kelli Rushek |
| author_sort | Jason Abram |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description |
Around 3.3 million young people are trafficked worldwide, with over half subjected to sexual exploitation (Data and Research on Forced Labour, 2024). However, little research exists on the role of school-based educators in learning about, preventing, and identifying human trafficking. This study examines educators’ knowledge of trafficking both locally and globally. Grounded in critical anti-trafficking frameworks, Schulman’s (1987) framework of teachers’ knowledge, and Bronfenbrenner and Cici’s (1994) Bioecological Model, the study surveyed 205 educators in Central Florida in the United States. Findings show that over 60% had received no training on human trafficking, while 24.3% of those who had training were uncertain about how to report trafficking cases. Educators also expressed a desire for more school-based training and professional development. Implications suggest using critical, pedagogical approaches like Ginwright’s (2018) healing-centred engagement to enhance educators’ understanding and help deter global trafficking networks.
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-4a4495e8ce16484dbdc6dbf78d07ce2c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1718-4770 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education |
| spelling | doaj-art-4a4495e8ce16484dbdc6dbf78d07ce2c2025-08-25T07:52:57ZengUniversity of AlbertaJournal of Contemporary Issues in Education1718-47702025-08-0120110.20355/jcie29679Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional DevelopmentJason Abram0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-3373-1742Kelli Rushek1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5031-9261Miami UniversityMiami University Around 3.3 million young people are trafficked worldwide, with over half subjected to sexual exploitation (Data and Research on Forced Labour, 2024). However, little research exists on the role of school-based educators in learning about, preventing, and identifying human trafficking. This study examines educators’ knowledge of trafficking both locally and globally. Grounded in critical anti-trafficking frameworks, Schulman’s (1987) framework of teachers’ knowledge, and Bronfenbrenner and Cici’s (1994) Bioecological Model, the study surveyed 205 educators in Central Florida in the United States. Findings show that over 60% had received no training on human trafficking, while 24.3% of those who had training were uncertain about how to report trafficking cases. Educators also expressed a desire for more school-based training and professional development. Implications suggest using critical, pedagogical approaches like Ginwright’s (2018) healing-centred engagement to enhance educators’ understanding and help deter global trafficking networks. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29679 |
| spellingShingle | Jason Abram Kelli Rushek Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development Journal of Contemporary Issues in Education |
| title | Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development |
| title_full | Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development |
| title_fullStr | Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development |
| title_full_unstemmed | Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development |
| title_short | Educators’ Perceptions of Human Trafficking and Implications for Professional Development |
| title_sort | educators perceptions of human trafficking and implications for professional development |
| url | https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/jcie/index.php/JCIE/article/view/29679 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jasonabram educatorsperceptionsofhumantraffickingandimplicationsforprofessionaldevelopment AT kellirushek educatorsperceptionsofhumantraffickingandimplicationsforprofessionaldevelopment |