The Radical Academy: Surviving as a Novice Academic on the Educational Left

• In Event: Roundtable Session 60
  In Roundtable Session: Developing Writers, Researchers, and Critical Scholars

Abstract

This study sought the advice that respected and established academics on the political educational left might offer politically progressive novice academics (graduate students and new faculty members) negotiating the labyrinth of the academy. These scholars included Antonia Darder, Joe Kincheloe, Donaldo Macedo, Peter McLaren, Wayne Ross, Christine Sleeter and Shirley Steinberg. Analyses of the data offered the following thematic findings and suggestions to novice critical academics: chose a chair/supervisor based on their ideological congruence; be ready for rigorous psychological work; seek to understand potential institutional, ideological and methodology barriers to your work; seek and form progressive peer support networks and communities; make connections with other scholars; create more equitable relations of power between groups; and, write well.

Author

• Marc Pruyn, Monash University