News

PESA does not sell or take commission from any of the events listed on this website.

Jackson, Liz, Questioning Allegiance: Resituating Civic Education, (Routledge) 2019

Education about living in society and in the world is a vital task of schools. Yet such civic education is not always critically examined, and few among us have been encouraged to reflect on our civic education experiences. Around the world, one’s civic education most often looks like a black box. How it works is unclear. When human harm, violence, and oppression can be seen in a wide variety of contexts, it is worth critically examining civic education. Could it be that civic education is not playing a helpful role in society? Can it be done differently and better? As one reflects on the contemporary social world, it is helpful to examine the assumptions surrounding education for living together, to think about current modes and possible alternatives. Otherwise, one might end up promoting allegiance to civic and partisan entities which are themselves black boxes (the ‘nation’, the ‘people’), failing to notice when and how what goes on in civic education is morally questionable.

This book aims to elucidate some of the black box of civic education, and focuses on some of its main operations across contexts. Offering a new framework for students and academics, this book questions existing thinking and shifts the focus of attention from the right balance to strike between local, national, and global allegiances to the more fundamental question of what counts as ‘local’, ‘national’, and ‘global’, and what might be involved in cultivating allegiances to them. It looks at allegiance to not just transnational but also sub-global ‘civilisations’ and it problematises the notion of the ‘local community’ in new ways.

https://www.routledge.com/Questioning-Allegiance-Resituating-Civic-Education-1st-Edition/Jackson/p/book/9781138351110

Pham Lien, International Graduates Returning to Vietnam, (Springer : Singapore) 2019

Discourses in international education have largely focused on economic and political imperatives, which emphasise institutional measures such as student mobility, international partnerships and alliances as evidence of efficiency and achievement. This book shifts that thinking to consider international education as a potentiality for ethical development. Combining Amartya Sen’s capability approach and Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social practices to conceptualise normative agency and situated freedom, the book examines returning Vietnamese international students’ involvement, or at least scope for agentic involvement, in their everyday practices, and, from that, understanding their empowerment as a process of personal and social change.

Employing reflexive sociology, the research praxis gives Vietnamese returnees voice and opportunities to share candid views about their personal ambitions, struggles and achievements in contributing to the macro development of Vietnam. Its standpoint is that returning international students to be ends rather than means in the development process, who can critically examine their roles in society and enable change as they see valuable. To that extent, the book amplifies the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Target 4.7 ‘Sustainable Development and Global Citizenship’ that promote models of reconciliation between countries and people, invite students to question received knowledge and avoid narratives that entrench views about development and development actors.

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9789811359408

Burgh, Gilbert & Thornton, Simone, Philosophical Inquiry with Children: The Development of an Inquiring Society in Australia, (Routledge: Abingdon) 2018

Philosophy in schools in Australia dates back to the 1980s and is rooted in the Philosophy for Children curriculum and pedagogy. Seeing potential for educational change, Australian advocates were quick to develop new classroom resources and innovative programs that have proved influential in educational practice throughout Australia and internationally. Behind their contributions lie key philosophical and educational discussions and controversies which have shaped attempts to introduce philosophy in schools and embed it in state and national curricula.

Drawing together a wide range of eminent scholars and practitioners in the field of educational philosophy, this anthology, the first of its kind, provides not only a historical narrative, but an opportunity to reflect on the insights and experiences of the authors that have made history. The collection is divided into three parts. The overarching theme of Part I is the early years of Philosophy for Children in Australia and how they informed the course that the ‘philosophy in schools movement’ would take. Part II focuses on the events and debates surrounding the development and production of new materials, including arguments for and against the suitability of the original Philosophy for Children curriculum. In Part III, key developments relating to teaching philosophy in schools are analysed.

This collection of diverse views, critical appraisals, and different perspectives of historical currents is intended to stimulate thought-provoking questions about theory and practice, and to increase general awareness both nationally and internationally of philosophy in schools in Australia. It is also intended to encourage readers to identify emerging ideas and develop strategies for implementation.

https://www.routledge.com/Philosophical-Inquiry-with-Children-The-Development-of-an-Inquiring-Society/Burgh-Thornton/p/book/9781138362963

Ceder, Simon, Towards a Posthuman Theory of Educational Relationality, (Routledge) 2018

Towards a Posthuman Theory of Educational Relationality critically reads the intersubjective theories on educational relations and uses a posthuman approach to ascribe agency relationally to humans and nonhumans alike. The book introduces the concept of ‘educational relationality’ and contains examples of nonhuman elements of technology and animals, putting educational relationality and other concepts into context as part of the philosophical investigation. Drawing on educational and posthuman theorists, it answers questions raised in ongoing debates regarding the roles of students and teachers in education, such as the foundations of educational relations and how these can be challenged.

https://www.routledge.com/Towards-a-Posthuman-Theory-of-Educational-Relationality/Ceder/p/book/9781138486966

Stolz, Steven, Alasdair MacIntyre, Rationality and Education: Against Education of Our Age, (Springer) 2018

Despite Alasdair MacIntyre being known as an academic who has made many notable contributions to a range of areas in philosophy, his thinking on education is not as well-known and/or properly understood by most audiences and readerships that predominantly reside in educational contexts. With this in mind, this book aims to provide a critique of MacIntyre’s thinking about education, and hence commences with a central theme found in MacIntyre’s extensive corpus concerning the fragmentation and disunification of ideas found in our culture and society that stems both from the rejection of metaphysics and what it means to be a human being living within the context of history. According to MacIntyre, part of the problem why this has occurred is due to educational institutions, particularly universities failing to resist the pressure exerted from industry and the state to conform. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a type of intellectual dissensus where the shared conceptions of rational enquiry and the role of reason have been replaced by pluralistic notions of private and personal choices concerning the good, and a disillusionment with reason that is ultimately exhibited as apathy and conformism. In order to overcome this apathy and conformism found in our culture and society, MacIntyre’s educational project is concerned with the cultivation of rationality; however, this is not an easy undertaking because it involves students being confronted with alternative – sometimes rather hostile – rival traditions so they both come to see rival points of view and understand that each tradition, including their own, does not come from a neutral or value-neutral standpoint. To MacIntyre, dialectical encounters between traditions is a crucial starting point of a good education, but for intellectual and academic progress to be made, rational enquiry needs to be grounded in a shared understanding of first principles that aims at truth and rational vindication.

https://www.springer.com/gp/book/9783319922751

Hung, Ruyu, Education between Speech and Writing Crossing the Boundaries of Dao and Deconstruction, (Routledge: London) 2018

This unique book explores how graphocentrism affects Chinese education and culture. It moves away from the contemporary educational practices in China of following the Western model of phonocentrism, to demonstrate that each perspective interacts and counteracts with each other, creating a dialogue between Eastern and Western thought.

Chapters explore the consonances and dissonances between the two, problematizing the educational practices of Chinese tradition and proposing a dialectical thinking of post-graphocentrism, based on the concepts of Dao and deconstruction. The volume creates a unique area in the field of philosophy of education by questioning the writing/speaking relationship in Chinese tradition, complete with educational ideas and practices that consider the uniqueness of Chinese character writing.

A pioneering study of its kind, Education between Speech and Writing provides a valuable source for students of philosophy of education, as well as students and academics in the field of Chinese Studies. The book will also appeal to anyone interested in dialogues between Chinese and Western thoughts, especially negotiating between Daoism and deconstruction.

https://www.routledge.com/Education-between-Speech-and-Writing-Crossing-the-Boundaries-of-Dao-and/Hung/p/book/9781138846388

D'Olimpio, Laura., Media and Moral Education: A philosophy of critical engagement, (Routledge: London) 2018

In an age of mass art and social media, the ability to identify reliable sources of information and disregard unreliable ones has become a vital skill. Yet, the educational environment has not kept pace with rapid advances in technology, despite the fact that educating students to engage critically and compassionately with others via online media is of the utmost importance. Media and Moral Education: A philosophy of critical engagement addresses this oversight by demonstrating that the study of philosophy can be used to enhance critical thinking skills that are sorely needed in today’s technological age.

D’Olimpio claims that philosophical thinking skills support the adoption of an attitude she calls critical perspectivism. Critical perspectivism gives citizens the ability to engage with multiple perspectives in a critical and compassionate manner. Drawing upon the work of Martha Nussbaum, who defends the morally educative potential of narrative artworks to cultivate rational emotions such as care and compassion, D’Olimpio applies critical perspectivism to multimedia examples from Australia, the USA and the UK. She further claims that the Community of Inquiry, a pedagogy practised by advocates of Philosophy for Children, creates a space in which participants can practise being critically perspectival. The Community of Inquiry can be conducted with all age levels in a classroom or public setting, making it beneficial for adults, as well as students and children, in shaping democratic and discerning citizens.

This book will be of interest to academics, researchers and postgraduate students in the areas of philosophy of education, philosophy, education, critical theory and communication, film and media studies.

www.routledge.com/Media-and-Moral-Education-A-Philosophy-of-Critical-Engagement/DOlimpio/p/book/9781138291423

Teschers, Christoph, Education and Schmid's Art of Living, (Routledge: London) 2017

Instead of simply following the current neoliberal mantra of proclaiming economic growth as the single most important factor for maintaining well-being, Education and Schmid’s Art of Living revisits the idea of an education focused on personal development and the well-being of human beings. Drawing on philosophical ideas concerning the good life and recent research in positive psychology, Teschers argues in favour of shifting the focus in education and schooling towards a beautiful life and an art of living for today's students.

Containing a thorough discussion of the ideas of contemporary German philosopher Wilhelm Schmid, this book considers the possible implications of developing a more humanistic and life-centred approach to educational policy, research and practice, showing that Schmid’s concept of Lebenskunst provides a firm philosophical basis for this endeavour. Among others, this book draws on analytical and continental traditions to challenge current views and assumptions in regard to education and the role of schooling for contemporary societies. As a result, Teschers’ work is sure to spark a debate about the direction of educational policy and practice in the 21st century.

Education and Schmid’s Art of Living is essential reading for academics and students with an interest in education. Given the importance of such topics as the relationship between education and society, teacher education and how best to structure schools and learning environments, Teschers’ work will appeal to academics and students in a diverse range of fields, including education, philosophy, sociology and psychology.

https://www.routledge.com/Education-and-Schmids-Art-of-Living-Philosophical-Psychological-and/Teschers/p/book/9781138680449

Benade, Leon; Jackson, Mark, Transforming education: Design and governance in global contexts, (Springer: Singapore) 2017

This book is an edited collection grouped into three key thematic areas. Its authors are researchers and theoretical scholars in the fields of education curriculum, education technology, education philosophy, and design for education. They present primary research and theoretical considerations, descriptive accounts and philosophical reflections to provide readers with a broad sweep of the ‘state of play’ in thinking about the place and space of learning.

Transforming Education distils, from a panoply of critical arenas, an understanding of the forces currently at play in redefining curriculum agendas for education – from primary to post-secondary. It analyses the major ways in which the built environment of education is transforming, in response to various globalised policy drivers and new education delivery technologies. Its authors critique the ways education performs a governance function over the users and occupants of space, be it physical or virtual.

For readers who may be seriously engaging with the concept of spatiality in relation to education for the first time, this book provides the opportunity to develop a clear understanding of a wide scope of theory, practice and critique in relation to learning environments.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-981-10-5678-9

Benade, Leon, Being a teacher in the 21st century: A critical New Zealand research study, (Springer: Singapore) 2017

This book provides scholars, teacher educators, as well as reflective school leaders and teachers with valuable insights into what it is to be a teacher in the 21st century. It does so by presenting original research based on a study of several New Zealand schools between 2013 and 2015, and in particular, a focussed study of four of those schools in 2015.

The book draws on the findings to take stock of some of the central manifestations of 21st-century learning, especially digital pedagogies and the collaborative practices associated with teaching and learning in modern learning environments. It reflects on the mental shifts and sometimes-painful transitions teachers and leaders are making and experiencing as they enter uncharted waters, moving from traditional classroom practices to ones that emphasise collaboration, teamwork and the radical de-centring of their personal roles. It outlines a blueprint for understanding how to navigate these changes, and describes and explains the nature of pedagogical shifts apparent in digital classrooms and modern learning environments.

https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007%2F978-981-10-3782-5

Dall'Alba, Gloria, Exploring education through phenomenology: Diverse approaches, (Wiley-Blackwell: Oxford) 2009

Increasing interest in phenomenology as a philosophy and research movement among scholars in education, the humanities and social sciences makes this book both timely and relevant for educational debate. The book explores contributions of phenomenology to educational practice and research. It juxtaposes diverse approaches to phenomenological inquiry in addressing questions of significance for education today. It thereby demonstrates phenomenology is a contemporary movement that is both dynamic and varied. The book highlights ways in which phenomenology can inform a broad range of aspects of educational theorising and practice, including learning through the body, writing online, being an authentic teacher, ambiguities in becoming professionals, and school transition. Through exploring and interrogating diverse approaches and ideas from phenomenology, this book provides insights into key educational questions.

http://au.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-1405196599.html

Dall'Alba, Gloria, Learning to be professionals, (Springer: Dordrecht) 2009

Preparing professionals to meet the demands of changes in practice is a compelling issue for the development of society, professions and individual professionals. A key tenet of this book is that we currently prepare professionals for the world of work in ways that are generally limited in scope and inadequate for addressing contemporary professional practice. The book critically investigates professional education programmes and the assumptions upon which they are based, closely interweaving theory and empirical material on learning to be professionals. It argues for an ontological turn in which professional education attends not only to what students know and can do, but also who they are becoming as professionals.

http://www.springer.com/book/978-90-481-2607-1