Beyond Liberal Democracy in Schools: The Power of PluralismIn this unique union of philosophy and ethnographic research, Barbara Thayer-Bacon explains how the individualist legacy of liberal democracy, as conceived by Locke and Rosseau, ignores and excludes the needs of American students raised in cultures with strong communal traditions. Drawing upon her experience with the educational methods of other cultures as well as the work of modern educational philosophers such as Dewey, Barber, Young, and Mouffe and Laclau, Thayer-Bacon shows us how our current vision of the democratic process as revealed in school practices routinely fails minority students. She offers recommendations to help us develop learning environments for students that are culturally aware, anti-racist, and relationally focused. This radical reimagining of American schools will be beneficial to researchers and practitioners alike.This book illustrates how current educational theories marginalize students belonging to a variety of minority populations (Native American, Mexican American, African American), offers a new theory of educational philosophy that values both individuals and communities and makes room for emotion and intuition as learning tools, and envisions new ways of teaching based on the author's experiences studying and observing schools in other cultures. |
Contents
Current Democratic Theories | 1 |
Shared Responsibilities 33333 | 33 |
Shared Authority | 55 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
adults African American American schools American teachers Barber behavior bell hooks Benjamin Barber Chapter Cheryl child China Chinese American citizens classical liberal classroom collective cultures communitarian concept critical curriculum democracy-always-in-the-making democratic theory desks develop Dewey Dewey's Diné Primary School discussion elementary school Escuela Estados Unidos families feel focus freedom Ghana Giroux grade Guangzhou Highlander Folk School Hongmei important Iris Marion Young Japan Japanese American Japanese teachers Jefferson kids Laclau and Mouffe lessons liberal democracy Lidia Lincoln live Luke lunch lunchtime Mexican American Mexico Mouffe's Native American Navajo Navajo language observed parents perspective philosophy play pluralism pluralistic political practice problems recognizes relational role says shared authority shared identities shared responsibility social staff stay stories talking teach Thayer-Bacon tion transactional view U.S. schools United values week Young Warriors High