Compares two books published in the middle 1970s--F. Jameson's "Marxism and Form" and R. Ohmann's "English in America" to show the distinction between the theorists and pedagogues on the academic literary left. (FL)

This paper proposes a new myth for New Zealand education policy development: "equal power in adversity." Unlike the preliberalism Darwinian myth, "survival of the fittest," and its replacement, "equal opportunities," the new myth would incorporate and reconstrue the socially critical postulates of the currently hegemonic "equal outcomes" myth…

Contrasts Karl Popper's theory of social reform with a Marxist theory of reform. Concludes that a liberal approach to educational reform, as exemplified by A.S. Neill's self-governing school at Summerhill, is generally more satisfactory. (Author/DB)

The Marxist theory of correspondence between education and the rest of society and the economy is summarized and analyzed in terms of capitalist systems. The conclusion reached is that the educational systems of the advanced capitalist societies are generally mismatched with the wider economies of which they are a part; that is, the correspondence…

This essay investigates what identity politics may have to contribute to the reformation of Marxist theories of education through considering how it would theorize the practice of explicitly critical pedagogy. (IAH)

Education names and classifies individuals. This result seems unavoidable. For example, some students will graduate, and some will not. Those who graduate will be "graduates"; those who do not graduate will be labeled otherwise. The only way to avoid such labeling is to fail to make distinctions of any kind. Yet education is rife with…

This paper explores the evidence of a substantive paradigm shift in curriculum theory by examining the questions that have caused Elliot Eisner's radical shift from an empirical-analytical research model to a critical-theoretical one. The role of theory development and of ethics and values in research have propelled Eisner's theoretical shift. (TE)

This paper traces the roots of the new vocationalism to the educational reform movements of the 1980s, with philosophical underpinnings in the work of John Dewey in the early 20th century. It explores other influences, including Marxian critiques of capitalist uses of education and alternative views of education and work presented by followers of…

This essay is a response to a review by Peter Gronn of the author's book "Schooling as a Ritual Performance." It addresses general issues raised by Gronn in order to situate the review in the larger context that addresses the failure of Gronn's mode of analysis. (TE)

This essay is a response to Peter McLaren's response to the author's review of Peter McLaren's book "Schooling as a Ritual Performance." It asserts that McLaren has failed to address the three major criticisms of his book: an alleged forsaken entanglement with theory; an alleged hidden agenda; and an alleged reinforcement of dominant…

Michel Foucault's work, it is suggested, has much to offer education. A general introduction to his work is presented, and his account of power/knowledge is outlined. How this power/knowledge is exercised in what Foucault calls 'the disciplines' is discussed and implications for schools are outlined. (Author/MLW)

The introductory essay in this volume examines the relationship between philosophy and common sense as these pertain to educational administration, and suggests that philosophy should become a form of critical self-reflective decision-making that occurs within the domain of social action and does not stop with the achievement of clarity of…

This volume is part of a series of monographs from Australia devoted to outlining an alternative approach, based on neo-Marxist concepts, to policy studies in education. The opening essay in this volume argues that real and significant educational reform will not come about through a revolution in decision-making and managerial technology, but…

This volume is part of a series of monographs from Australia devoted to outlining an alternative approach, based on neo-Marxist concepts, to educational administration. The opening discussion is a critique of conventional student evaluation practices aimed at tracing the social influences that are brought to bear on students, teachers, schools,…

The introductory essay in this volume presents a case study of class-based organizational control and contestation in secondary schools in Victoria (Australia) in the 1970s, based on a critical perspective derived from the Frankfurt school, a perspective that undertakes to reveal the power structures, class hierarchy, and legitimating ideologies…