A Manifesto for Education: A Critical Discussion

Session Submission Type: Symposium

Abstract

This session focuses on a critical discussion of a Manifesto for Education, written by Gert Biesta (University of Stirling, UK) and Carl-Anders Säfström (Mälardalen University, Sweden). The manifesto is a relatively short text (about 1600 words) that, in a succinct way tries to argue for the need to stand up for education in a time in which education finds itself under attack. The manifesto aims to speak for education in a way that is neither populist nor idealist. It aims to speak out of a concern for what makes education educational, and is interested in the question how much education is still possible in our educational institutions. We have invited six scholars (from a range of different educational/ scholarly contexts,) to provide a critical comment on the issues raised in the Manifesto.

Sub Unit

• Division B - Curriculum Studies / Section 5: Historical, Philosophical, and Disciplinary Knowledges

Chairs

• Gert J. Biesta, University of Luxembourg

• Carl Anders Safstrom, Mälardalen University

Papers

• Can the Very Thought of Education Break Bricks? - Mario Di Paolantonio, York University

• The Importance and Impossibility of Theorizing Education Educationally - Thomas S. Popkewitz, University of Wisconsin

• Education in the Tension Between What Is and What Is Not—For You - Claudia W. Ruitenberg, The University of British Columbia

• How Soon Is Now? Educational Emancipation Without the Wait - James Stillwaggon, Iona College

• What Constitutes Freedom? Insights From Foucault - Lynda Stone, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

• The Educational in Education, Out in the Blue? A Response From Mathematics Education - Paola Valero, Aalborg University