1st Edition

Educational Controversies Towards a discourse of reconciliation

By Pamela Lapage, Hugh Sockett Copyright 2002

    For the last 100 years, people have argued vigorously about a vast number of educational issues. At the heart of the arguments lies the question: What is the purpose of education? This conflict of educational purpose has seen rifts between academics, educators, politicians and parents. The authors of this book don't believe the conflicts need to be so hysterical, nor that the oppositions are incompatible. Rather, that it is in the manner in which debate is conducted that is so damaging.
    In this book, the authors contend that there are political, social, moral and civic needs for a new stance to debate the way forward. Examining a number of key controversies in educational discourse the book suggests ways in which controversies may be reconciled by looking for interrelations, mutual dependencies and links of importance. It develops current debate and provides suggestions for developing nurturing and supportive learning communities and so lead to educational change.

    Introduction: the challenge to improve public education, Introduction Five obstacles to improving education 1 A new vision of educational debate: reconciliatory discourse 2 The problem and the vision: the battle over math education 3 The procedure for RD 4 How should children learn? Competition and collaboration 5 The conditions and requirements for RD 6 Where should children go to school? The school choice controversy 7 How should children’s learning be assessed? The testing controversy 8 What should children learn? Curriculum complexity 9 Similar problems in the world of educational purpose 10 Conclusion: the need for RD

    Biography

    Pamela LePage has worked for four years as an Assistant Professor of Education at George Mason University and is now the Director of the Committee on Teacher Education at Stanford University, California, USA. Hugh Sockett is a Professor of Education in the Department of Public and International Affairs at George Mason University, Virginia, USA.