The Politics of Education in Politicized Times: Democracy, Knowledge, and Policy

Session Type: Symposium

Abstract

While education is always political, much is at risk when politicization comes to redefine and to polarize knowledge and learning. This interdisciplinary symposium explores the epistemic and civic challenges in our current era of democratic erosion, and aims to strengthen the democratic dimensions of education. These three conceptual papers focus on the political suppression of knowledge; the harms of traditional civic curricula to marginalized youth; and how contemporary policy alliances shape public education in just and unjust ways. Bridging philosophy of education, policy studies, and political theory, we argue for a focus on democratically-oriented trust; justice-forward civics curricula; and protection of the civic and democratic aims of public schooling from undemocratic actors to protect democratic education in challenging politicized times.

Sub Unit

• SIG-Politics of Education

Chair

• Pamela L. Grossman, University of Pennsylvania

Papers

• Responding to Manufactured Ignorance: Knowledge, Emotions, and Democratic Trust - Penelope Lusk, University of Pennsylvania; Sigal R. Ben-Porath, University of Pennsylvania

• Civic Burden: Conceptualizing the Epistemic Harms of Traditional Civic Education Curriculum - Abigail Dym, Providence College

• The Educated State: Competing and Complementary Policy Alliances in Public Education - Nora Reikosky, University of Houston

Session Organizer

• Penelope Lusk, University of Pennsylvania

Discussant

• Sigal R. Ben-Porath, University of Pennsylvania