Beyond Liberal Democracy in Schools: The Power of Pluralism (Advances in Contemporary Educational Thought Series) - Hardcover

Thayer-Bacon, Barbara J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 080774865X ISBN 13: 9780807748657

Publisher: Teachers College Press, 2008

Synopsis

In this unique union of philosophy and ethnographic research, Barbara Thayer-Bacon explains how the individualist legacy of liberal democracy, as conceived by Locke and Rosseau, ignores and excludes the needs of American students raised in cultures with strong communal traditions. Drawing upon her experience with the educational methods of other cultures as well as the work of modern educational philosophers such as Dewey, Barber, Young, and Mouffe and Laclau, Thayer-Bacon shows us how our current vision of the democratic process as revealed in school practices routinely fails minority students. She offers recommendations to help us develop learning environments for students that are culturally aware, anti-racist, and relationally focused. This radical reimagining of American schools will be beneficial to researchers and practitioners alike.

Book Features:

• Illustrates how current educational theories marginalize students belonging to a variety of minority populations (Native American, Mexican American, African American).
• Offers a new theory of educational philosophy that values both individuals and communities and makes room for emotion and intuition as learning tools.
• Envisions new ways of teaching based on the author’s experiences studying and observing schools in other cultures.

About this title

From the Author:

Barbara Thayer-Bacon is a professor of philosophy of education in the cultural studies of education program at the University of Tennessee.

Review:

“A wise, lively, and enticing book.”
―From the Foreword by Maxine Greene

“A path-breaking book!”
―Stephen N. Haymes, DePaul University

About this edition

• Publisher: Teachers College Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 080774865X
• ISBN 13: 9780807748657
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 216