chapter 4 - glmw.info

Broken Promises-school reform in retrospect (4)

 What is modern liberal

educational theory?  What exactly is the

theory underlying the notion of education as panacea?

 Two strands of thought:

Democratic vs Technocratic-Meritocratic school >democratic approach concerns the compatibility of the functions a school is expected to perform >techno-merit approach concerns the capacity of schools to perform their expected functions

 Educational systems must

fulfill at least 3 functions: 1. Schools must help integrate youth into the various occupational, political, familial and other adult roles required by an expanding economy and a stable polity

2. Giving each individual a chance to compete openly for privileges is both efficient and desirable

3. Education is a major component of promoting the psychic and emotional growth of the individual *the developmental function of education

 The integrative (1), egalitarian (2)

and developmental (3) functions are all compatible and mutually supportive  The occupational roles in capitalist society are best filled by individuals who have achieved the highest possible levels of personal development

 Personal development is

economically productive  A free and universal school system can render the opportunities for selfdevelopment, independent of race, ethnic origins, class background and sex

 Rather than being

necessary, the integrative, egalitarian and developmental functions are simply compatible

 According to this view, the economy is a technical

system requiring levels of technical competence that are inherent to a person or population and cannot be developed through education  Contrasting Horace’s Mann’s views(p55)

 Social control ideology