Thinking through Ethics and Values in Primary Education

Thinking Through Ethics and Values in Primary Education is an accessible text that encourages readers to explore deeply the ethics and values surrounding primary education. The text helps the reader to critically reflect on the principles that underpin education. Specifically written for education students in the later years of their course, the text draws on research and practice to explore the challenges and opportunities involved, while helping to develop the reader′s own critical thinking skills.

The book begins by asking ′what are ethics and values?′ and goes on to explore social diversity and society and education. It considers ethics and values and the curriculum, school organisation and the classroom. A chapter on ethics, values and the teacher encourages the reader to examine their own thoughts about education. Throughout, practical guidance runs alongside structured critical thinking exercises to help the reader and reflect on both theory and practice.

About the Series

Thinking Through Education is a new series of texts designed and written specifically for those education students entering the second or final phase of their degree course. Structured around sets of specific ′skills′, each chapter uses critical thinking and reflective exercises to develop greater subject knowledge and critical awareness.

Gianna Knowles is Principle Lecturer and Head of Partnership (Initial Teacher Education) at London South Bank University . She has also worked with teacher trainee students from across Europe at the University of Jönköping in Sweden. Before working in Higher Education Gianna gained over 12 years experience of teaching in primary schools in England, in London and the Midlands. She has worked in Local Authority Advisory services, working with individual teachers and whole-schools staffs to develop school wide practice and policy. Gianna has experience of being an OfSTED Inspector and reviewer for the Quality Assurance Agency. Her research interest is in the area of social justice, inclusion and diversity.

Vini Lander is the Head of Primary Programmes at the University of Chichester. She was also Deputy Director of Multiverse for 5 years. This was TDA funded professional resource network on achievement and diversity. As part of her role in Multiverse, Vini has delivered training sessions to student teachers and teacher educators on diversity, inclusion and achievement across England. Vini has also delivered lectures to teachers and teacher educators in Berlin Hamburg and Munich./par1/Vini worked in mainstream schools teaching science and A level Biology for a number of years. She also worked in a specialist role with pupils for whom English as an Additional Language. At the University of Chichester, Vini teaches on the primary undergraduate, postgraduate and Masters level programmes./par1//par1/Vini′s research interests lie in the field of race, ethnicity and diversity, particularly with reference to initial teacher education. She has completed her doctoral research in this area.

Glenn Stone is a principal lecturer in education at University of Chichester with the responsibility for co-ordinating the undergraduate primary programme. His research interests include teacher professionalism and the professional education of teachers. Glenn’s doctorate research focused on conceptions of professionalism by early career teachers. He has published on this topic and continues to be an active researcher in the field. 

Linda Cooper is a lecturer in Education Studies at the University of Chichester. She has worked in education for sixteen years both as a primary school teacher and as a lecturer. Before commencing her post at Chichester, Linda also worked at Portsmouth University as a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies and at Bishop Grosseteste University College, Lincoln with the Initial Teacher Training team. She has a range of interests and has published in the field of technology, physical development and the humanities.