In the Face of Neoliberalism: Public Educators and Resources for Defending a Democratic Discourse

• In Event: Roundtable Session 14
  In Roundtable Session: Defending Democracy in Schools: Rethinking Privilege and Color Blindness

Abstract

This paper presents results from a research project in a European country aimed at exploring the relational interplay in the secondary school context. This paper focuses on how secondary schools defend a public/democratic discourse against neo-liberal managerial forces. The processes are conceptualized as performances of agency (Priestley, Biesta & Robinson, 2013). A year-long case study was conducted at one secondary school using mainly interviews with school personnel and management. Results show how school personnel and the principal draw upon material, discursive and relational resources to preserve a school culture in which concern for student well-being is a prerequisite for academic achievement, thus questioning the “obviousness” of the managerial discourse, but at a personal cost.

Authors

• Anneli Frelin, University of Gävle

• Jan Grannas, University of Gavle