SPRING SEMINAR
Wednesday 25th January
Becky Francis - Director of Education, The RSA
Time: 4.00pm - 5.30pm
Location: Behrens 2.8
Reinvigorating the dialogue on principles for socially-just schooling.
Abstract: Various injurious effects of schooling have been documented in the literature over the years, leading some theorists to characterise schooling as damaging. Professor Francis will consider some of the ways in which schooling in the Global North can be considered to damage young people (and their teachers). These include: the reproduction of various forms of social inequality via schooling and the psychological injury and practices of harassment and exclusion this involves for pupils; institutional structures of discipline and surveillance; brutalisation of young people; and the effects of participation in these practices (and sometimes harassment and violence suffered by) teachers. But as well as drawing together this research, Professor Francis seeks to precipitate debate on forms and structures of schooling, maintaining that it is insufficient to simply criticise existing practices. We need to improve our articulation of the implications of our research in the construction of educational models which would better reflect social justice. To this end, Professor Francis will attempt to draw out key issues and questions necessary to address in envisaging alternative forms of schooling that would avoid the damaging effects of the present prevalent model. There will also be opportunity to reflect on the possibilities (or otherwise) of policy ‘impact’ and the role of think tanks and third sector organisations.