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Reclaiming Freedom in Education examines the notion of ‘freedom’ within educational settings. Following an investigation of the new ‘Free Schools’ in the UK, it argues that this name is a misnomer, and instead explores the original free schools of the 1960s and 1970s, using these models as a lens through which to explore contemporary examples of radical schooling, notably those which describe themselves as democratic and/or progressive. By arguing that in radical educational contexts both ‘positive freedom’ and ‘negative freedom’ are apparent, and that the notion that ‘responsible freedom’ is more pertinent than that of ‘absolute freedom’, this book posits that freedom can be seen to operate in a number of ways including ‘freedom to be’, ‘freedom to think’, ‘freedom to choose’ and ‘freedom to self-govern’. The book: Describes how freedom can be used to inform educational structures, policies, pedagogies and practices across a range of settings Features illustrative case studies of radical free schools and alternative education spaces which have been underpinned by a commitment to freedom and to advancing social justice Critiques the current policy agenda to use ‘freedom’ to make education more competitive through claims that it correlates with higher test scores and academic success Considers some of the challenges for teachers, educators and students of offering and experiencing freedom in education, and argues that despite these, the case for advancing freedom is both urgent and compelling Creating discussions about the new meaning and role that ‘freedom’ can have in improving education, Reclaiming Freedom in Education is a practical contribution to educational activism, which will be a key point of reference for teachers, parents, researchers and students on undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Education Studies, Early Childhood Studies and doctorates.
Created in 1964 as part of the Mississippi Freedom Summer, the Mississippi Freedom Schools were launched by educators and activists to provide an alternative education for African American students that would facilitate student activism and participatory democracy. The schools, as Jon N. Hale demonstrates, had a crucial role in the civil rights movement and a major impact on the development of progressive education throughout the nation. Designed and run by African American and white educators and activists, the Freedom Schools counteracted segregationist policies that inhibited opportunities for black youth. Providing high-quality, progressive education that addressed issues of social justice, the schools prepared African American students to fight for freedom on all fronts. Forming a political network, the Freedom Schools taught students how, when, and where to engage politically, shaping activists who trained others to challenge inequality. Based on dozens of first-time interviews with former Freedom School students and teachers and on rich archival materials, this remarkable social history of the Mississippi Freedom Schools is told from the perspective of those frequently left out of civil rights narratives that focus on national leadership or college protestors. Hale reveals the role that school-age students played in the civil rights movement and the crucial contribution made by grassroots activists on the local level. He also examines the challenges confronted by Freedom School activists and teachers, such as intimidation by racist Mississippians and race relations between blacks and whites within the schools. In tracing the stories of Freedom School students into adulthood, this book reveals the ways in which these individuals turned training into decades of activism. Former students and teachers speak eloquently about the principles that informed their practice and the influence that the Freedom School curriculum has had on education. They also offer key strategies for further integrating the American school system and politically engaging today's youth.
Education as Freedom is a groundbreaking edited text that documents and reexamines African-American empirical, methodological, and theoretical contributions to knowledge-making, teaching, and learning and American education from the nineteenth through the twenty-first century, a dynamic period of African-American educational thought and activism. Education as Freedom is a long awaited text that historicizes the current racial achievement gap as well as illuminates the myriad of African American voices and actions to define the purpose of education and to push the limits of the democratic experiment in the United States.
First published in 1985, Equality and Freedom in Education investigates the extent to which it is possible or desirable to provide equal opportunities in education, regardless of age sex, race, language, and social class. Attempts to make such provision regularly attract the criticism that they remove the freedom of parents and religious bodies to educate children in accordance with their particular wishes. To understand this dilemma, the book analyses the educational systems and practices in England and Wales, France, the USA, the USSR, China and Japan. Information about each system is provided in accordance with a taxonomy, developed by Professor Holmes for the International Bureau of Education in Geneva, and widely accepted by Ministries of Education throughout the world. Simplified diagrams show how school systems are organised and how children pass through the school system, and essential statistical information, taken from UNESCO sources, is also provided. The book will be of interest to students of education and sociology.
"This anthology is about those forms of education intended to help people think more critically about the social forces shaping their lives and think more confidently about their ability to react against those forces. Featuring articles by educator-activists, this collection explores the largely forgotten history of attempts by African Americans to use education as a tool of collective liberation. Together these contributions explore the variety of forms those attempts have taken, from the shadow of slavery to the contradictions of hip-hop." --Book Jacket.
Leading intellectual figures in the school reform movement, all of them favoring approaches centered around the value of competition and choice, outline different visions for the goal of choice-oriented educational reform and the best means for achieving it. This volume takes the reader inside the movement to empower parents with choice, airing the more interesting debates that the reformers have with one another over the direction and strategy of their movement.
Education Is Freedom is where humanity goes to school.? Democracy across the world is at risk. With the polarization of today’s society, the foundational right to freedom of speech is now being challenged from all sides. The truth is under siege as misinformation and hostility have replaced critical thinking and civil discourse. Our freedom of self-determination has a prerequisite: an informed electorate. If that electorate is armed with false information or is influenced by outside forces, their actions and reactions can put democracy in jeopardy. Today, more than ever, we must turn to the education, knowledge, and wisdom of each individual to discern right from wrong, truth from fiction, and success from failure. If learning is the key to success, then how can humanity advance its own cause? Our forefathers recognized that an educated populace was the very foundation of democracy. Education Is Freedom is a self-help guide for humanity that allows us to individually and collectively understand the roadmap to freedom. Humanity must indeed go back to school. Education Is Freedom provides the “what,” “why,” and “how” of learning. It outlines the importance of education for all mankind, the power of education to change our world, and the wisdom to unlock our personal freedom while preserving our democracy. Education is the one common denominator that separates those who are free from those who are trapped in their own reality. ?Someone can take your money, your material things, your job…but they can't take away what you know. ?With knowledge, you can replace anything lost, you can be free to explore the world, and you are beholden to no one. ?Whatever challenges or adversity you face in life, embracing a learning mentality will empower you and set you free. Education is the future, and education is freedom!
