Indoctrination And Education

The term ‘indoctrination’ is generally used to express disapproval of what someone is doing to the minds of children. The democrat uses it to condemn communist schools, the humanist to criticize programmes of religious instruction, the liberal to protest at the inculcation of racist attitudes.

If the term is to function in educational theory in a meaningful way, it cannot remain merely a term of abuse devoid of any definite connotation. Its meaning must be carefully specified. First published in 1972, Indoctrination and Education (now with a new preface by John O’Neill and Josie Snook) provides an extended analysis of the term ‘indoctrination’ in order to discover the distinction between education and indoctrination.

In the first two chapters, the author considers some of the strategies that have been used in attempts to make this distinction and indicates some of the problems in these attempts. In chapter three, he sets out his own analysis and in chapter four he relates this to the teaching of religion. In chapter five, he shows how ‘indoctrination’ is related to other educational concepts and to other concepts denoting persuasive techniques such a ‘propaganda’ and ‘brainwashing’. This book is a must read for anyone concerned with the study of education and educational theory and practice.

I. A. Snook was a philosopher of education, critical policy scholar, practical ethicist, social justice advocate and public intellectual.