Examines how the social and cultural terrain of educational policy and discourse has been altered, highlighting the need for closer connections between theoretical and critical discourses, on one hand, and real transformations currently shifting educational policies and practices in fundamentally rightist directions, on the other. The real and…

Argues that the ultimate effect of many recent educational "reforms" will be to exacerbate existing inequalities. Examines how such inequalities are publicly justified by the use of moral and biological logic systems. Explores the use of these arguments, such as those crystallized in Herrnstein and Murray's "Bell Curve," to…

Neo-liberal and neo-conservative groups have become allies committed to redefining our ideas about democracy, equality, and the common good. This article examines how moral and biological arguments are being used to justify conservative policies in education and the larger society. Alternative progressive models are advocated. (26 references) (MLH)