Education And Hope In Troubled Times

"Progressive educators have always been better at critique than at possibility. This book promises not to ignore critique, but to favor possibility. It is most rare and greatly welcomed." Richard Quantz, Miami University "The editor argues that in a material world, depicted by consumerism, spiritual nihilism and conspicuous consumption, there is need to offer a new vision and direction in education that would promote a more harmonious, holistic values-oriented schooling that transforms persons into moral beings, who care for others.... In terms of innovative ideas and approaches to pedagogy and theorizing about schooling, this volume is at the top of pedagogical discourses and thinking." Joseph Zajda, Australian Catholic University (Melbourne Campus) Education and Hope in Troubled Times brings together a group of the best and most creative educational thinkers to reflect on the purpose and future of public education. These original essays by leading social and educational commentators in North America attempt to articulate a new vision for education, especially public education, and begin to set an alternative direction. This is a time of crisis, but also of renewed possibility—one that offers the opportunity to radically reconsider what is the meaning of education for a generation that will bear the brunt of grappling with the extraordinary dangers and challenges we confront today. At its core this volume questions what will it mean to be an educated human being in the 21st century compelled to confront and address so much that threatens the very basis of a decent and hopeful human existence. Carrying forward a project of redefining and reshaping public discourse on education in the U.S., it is a critical catalyst and focus for re-thinking public policy on education.

"Progressive educators have always been better at critique than at possibility. This book promises not to ignore critique, but to favor possibility. It is most rare and greatly welcomed." Richard Quantz, Miami University "The editor argues that in a material world, depicted by consumerism, spiritual nihilism and conspicuous consumption, there is need to offer a new vision and direction in education that would promote a more harmonious, holistic values-oriented schooling that transforms persons into moral beings, who care for others.... In terms of innovative ideas and approaches to pedagogy and theorizing about schooling, this volume is at the top of pedagogical discourses and thinking." Joseph Zajda, Australian Catholic University (Melbourne Campus) Education and Hope in Troubled Times brings together a group of the best and most creative educational thinkers to reflect on the purpose and future of public education. These original essays by leading social and educational commentators in North America attempt to articulate a new vision for education, especially public education, and begin to set an alternative direction. This is a time of crisis, but also of renewed possibility—one that offers the opportunity to radically reconsider what is the meaning of education for a generation that will bear the brunt of grappling with the extraordinary dangers and challenges we confront today. At its core this volume questions what will it mean to be an educated human being in the 21st century compelled to confront and address so much that threatens the very basis of a decent and hopeful human existence. Carrying forward a project of redefining and reshaping public discourse on education in the U.S., it is a critical catalyst and focus for re-thinking public policy on education.

This book explores three global issues - climate change, peak oil and the limits to growth. It sets out the facts about the inevitable yet still largely unknown changes, and examines the feelings and attitudes the coming changes engender. It offers teachers ways to engage with vital but too often avoided issues, and to share success stories and sources of hope for the future. In these troubled and fast changing times yesterday is no longer an accurate guide to tomorrow. We have to understand and be able to prepare young people for a future very different from today's world. This book is about developing new ways of being and exploring new horizons. The insight and support it provides will help make teachers more knowledgeable and better able to prepare learners for the transition to a post-carbon future. This book is essential reading for primary and secondary teachers and for students and tutors in Initial Teacher Education. It will also be of value to headteachers, governors, educational researchers and others concerned with matching policy and practice to the demands of changing times. It will develop critical enquiry in Geography, English, Science, Citizenship Education, Personal, Social and Health Education and inspire those working in education for sustainability, sustainable schools and global education.

This book explores three global issues - climate change, peak oil and the limits to growth. It sets out the facts about the inevitable yet still largely unknown changes, and examines the feelings and attitudes the coming changes engender. It offers teachers ways to engage with vital but too often avoided issues, and to share success stories and sources of hope for the future. In these troubled and fast changing times yesterday is no longer an accurate guide to tomorrow. We have to understand and be able to prepare young people for a future very different from today's world. This book is about developing new ways of being and exploring new horizons. The insight and support it provides will help make teachers more knowledgeable and better able to prepare learners for the transition to a post-carbon future. This book is essential reading for primary and secondary teachers and for students and tutors in Initial Teacher Education. It will also be of value to headteachers, governors, educational researchers and others concerned with matching policy and practice to the demands of changing times. It will develop critical enquiry in Geography, English, Science, Citizenship Education, Personal, Social and Health Education and inspire those working in education for sustainability, sustainable schools and global education.

Making much use of story, fable and anecdote, fortunes and fables reaffirms the ideals, convictions and hopes which lead so many people into teaching and which inspire them still. The author has many tales to tell. He recalls Brent's pioneering programme for equality, praised by government reports but assassinated by the press as a conspiracy of "race spies". And the creation of "Equality Assurance in Schools", a book to compensate for the National Curriculum Council's failure to issue guidelines for education in a multicultural society. He reflects on education for spiritual development, on the importance of stories, on the issue of hybridity. He pays moving tribute to a pioner of antiracist education, David Ruddell, and addresses a much younger friend on her cpming of age. He satirizes the government's educational reforms and parodies quangocrats and "quallispeak".

"Introduces educators and scholars to the legacy and import of Daisaku Ikeda as a singular philosopher, educator, and institution-builder, thus enriching current education discourse. In the process, the book illuminates the benefits of cross-cultural research and learning by considering the relevance of Ikeda's thought not only to established streams of pedagogy and practice in the Deweyan tradition but also to emerging trends in education research such as ecocritical education and critical race feminism"--

This collection of writings and speeches aims to inform, increase understanding, and inspire a sense of urgency for the challenging events of our age, for only when these challenges are understood and felt by all, will there be concerted global action.

Contested Issues in Troubled Times provides student affairs educators with frameworks to constructively think about and navigate the contentious climate they are increasingly encountering on campus.The 54 contributors address the book’s overarching question: How do we create an equitable climate conducive to learning in a dynamic environment fraught with complexity and a socio-political context characterized by escalating intolerance, incivility, and overt discrimination?Rather than attempting to offer readers definitive solutions, this book illustrates the possibilities and promise of acknowledging multiple approaches to addressing contentious issues, articulating a persuasive argument anchored in professional judgment, listening attentively to others for points of connection as well as divergence, and drawing upon new ways of thinking to foster safe and inclusive campuses.Among the issues this volume addresses are such topics as sexual violence; historically underrepresented racial and ethnic groups; transgender and undocumented students; the professional skills, knowledge and/or dispositions needed to thrive and facilitate systemic change in contemporary higher education organizations; the implications of maintaining personal and professional identities via social media; and self-care.In this companion volume to Contested Issues in Student Affairs (whose issues remain as relevant today as they were upon publication in 2011), a new set of contributors explore new questions which foreground issues of equity, safety, and civility – themes which dominate today’s higher education headlines and campus conversations.The book concludes with calls to action, encouraging student affairs educators to exhibit the moral courage needed to critically examine routine practices that (un)knowingly perpetuate inequity and enact the foundational values and principles upon which the student affairs profession was founded.