Teaching For Dissent

Teaching for Dissent looks at the implications of new forms of dissent for educational practice. The reappearance of dissent in political meetings and street protests opens new possibilities for improved democratic life and citizen participation. This book argues that this possibility will not be fulfilled if schools do not cultivate the skills necessary for our citizens to engage in political dissent. The authors look at how practices in schools, such as the testing regime and the 'hidden curriculum', suppress students' ability to voice ideas that stand in opposition to the status quo. Teaching for Dissent calls for a realignment of the curriculum and the practices of schooling with a guiding vision of democratic participation.

Teaching for Dissent looks at the implications of new forms of dissent for educational practice. The reappearance of dissent in political meetings and street protests opens new possibilities for improved democratic life and citizen participation. This book argues that this possibility will not be fulfilled if schools do not cultivate the skills necessary for our citizens to engage in political dissent. The authors look at how practices in schools, such as the testing regime and the 'hidden curriculum', suppress students' ability to voice ideas that stand in opposition to the status quo. Teaching for Dissent calls for a realignment of the curriculum and the practices of schooling with a guiding vision of democratic participation.

Teaching Peter McLaren, the first volume in the Teaching Contemporary Scholars series, focuses on the work of educational scholars on the left who have made major contributions to the field. In this book, editors Marc Pruyn and Luis M. Huerta-Charles have assembled a notable group of contributors who reflect on, analyze, and critique over two decades's worth of scholarship produced by Peter McLaren, one of the most influential and widely read leftist scholars working in academia today. Specifically, this book focuses on the nexus of education, critical theory, Marxism, globalization, and struggles for social justice via the work and theorizing of McLaren.

The legacy of the Bush administration and its "War on Terror" includes a new logic of surveillance, suppressing public dissent and mobilizing both "fear" and "faith." In this accessible book, Elmer and Opel show that this new logic stretches well beyond the realm of airport security and international relations into everyday police techniques, including the use of Tasers, the deployment of "stealth" crowd control, the zoning of protestors and the suppression of public dissent. Drawing on social theories and media analyses, this book reveals the underlying "logic of preemption" whereby threats must be eliminated before they materialize. By addressing the implications of this new logic, Elmer and Opel lay the groundwork for more effective resistance.

This book explores how the concept of tolerance might be understood, cultivated and enacted in and through educational encounters. It argues that by opening up educational encounters to allow for ‘dissent’ – that is, disagreement, criticism and open dialogue – our everyday social life experiences and relationships would flourish, and potentially allow for a more peaceful and harmonious co-existence alongside those with whom we disagree. Dissent does not mean that ‘anything goes’; what is needed is considerate and responsible recognition of distinct and diverse perspectives. Tolerance is sometimes regarded as a simple and uncritical celebration of difference, and sometimes dismissed as a necessary and resentful acceptance of others. Here, the authors make a compelling case for ‘conditional tolerance’, which requires us to continuously reflect on the limits of what we are willing to tolerate. The book will be an indispensable resource for researchers and students working in the areas of education, philosophy and sociology, particularly those with an interest in educational freedom, democracy and social justice.

The history of American education is replete with educational reform, and to a lesser extent, educational dissent. Consider the present: you have various forms of privatization, school choice, the 'No Child Left Behind' act, home schooling, 'value-added' accountability, alternative teacher preparation programs, on-line instruction, etc. This range of activity is not exceptional. For instance, consider the past: progressive education, open education, the junior high school, the middle school, Life Adjustment education, career education, vocational education, the comprehensive high school, school-to-work, year-round schooling, behavioral objectives, proficiency exams (high-stakes testing), whole language, learning packages and self-paced instruction, modular scheduling, site-based management, all presented as the way to reform American schools, at least in part. Then you have the reformers themselves, such as John Dewey, George Counts, Herbert Kohl, John Holt, Charles Silberman, Admiral Hyman Rickover, James Bryant Conant, all the way back to Horace Mann himself. Dissenters, and dissenting movements, while not as numerous and certainly not as well known in educational circles, count the various faith-based schools and individuals such as Archbishop Hughes of New York.Clearly, this is an area rich in ideas, rife with controversy, and vital in its outcome for individuals and the nation as a whole. And yet, strangely enough, there exists no major encyclopedia bringing the varied strands together in one place as a ready reference for scholars, teachers, school administrators, and students studying to enter the educational profession. This two-volume work is intended to be that authoritative resource. Key themes and topics include: " biographies of reformers and dissenters " theoretical and ideological perspectives " key programs and legislation " judicial verdicts impacting educational change in America " the politics and processes of educational reform and policy making " dissent and resistance to reform " technology's impact on educational reform. A Reader's Guide in the front matter groups entries around such themes to help readers find related entries more easily.

Reclaiming Dissent is a unique collection of essays that focus on the value of dissent for the survival of democracy in the United States and the role that education can play with respect to this virtue. The various contributors to this volume share the conviction that the vitality of a democracy depends on the ability of ordinary citizens to debate and oppose the decisions of their government. Yet recent history in the United States suggests that dissent is discouraged and even suppressed in the political, cultural and educational arenas. Many Americans are not even aware that democracy is not primarily about voting every four years or majority rule, but about actively participating in public debates and civic action. This book makes a strong case for the need to reclaim a tradition in the United States, like the one that existed during the Civil Rights Era, in which dissent, opposition, and conflict were part of the daily fabric of our democracy. Teacher educators, teacher candidates, new teachers, and educators in general can greatly benefit from reading this book.

This book explores how the concept of tolerance might be understood, cultivated and enacted in and through educational encounters. It argues that by opening up educational encounters to allow for ‘dissent’ – that is, disagreement, criticism and open dialogue – our everyday social life experiences and relationships would flourish, and potentially allow for a more peaceful and harmonious co-existence alongside those with whom we disagree. Dissent does not mean that ‘anything goes’; what is needed is considerate and responsible recognition of distinct and diverse perspectives. Tolerance is sometimes regarded as a simple and uncritical celebration of difference, and sometimes dismissed as a necessary and resentful acceptance of others. Here, the authors make a compelling case for ‘conditional tolerance’, which requires us to continuously reflect on the limits of what we are willing to tolerate. The book will be an indispensable resource for researchers and students working in the areas of education, philosophy and sociology, particularly those with an interest in educational freedom, democracy and social justice.