The relationship between perspectives of suitable education and disaffection

Disaffection

Initial Thoughts

School disaffection is often considered in relation to truancy, exclusion, challenging behaviour and poor educational outcomes.  However, when looking at some of the more current research around disaffection such a perspective may be considered narrow and not necessarily indicative of the true extent of disaffection in our schools.  There are many ways of conceptualising disaffection and I wonder what the relationship is between how disaffection is conceptualised and how 'suitable education' is also conceptualised?

 

Go to my page on disaffection to read more about disaffection...

To find out more about the link between disaffection and the concept of suitable education go here...

What is the purpose of education?

The starting point for any discussion about 'suitable education', it seems, is to determine what the purpose of education is and what we want to achieve from it.  This is an important question in the discussion about what constitutes a 'suitable education’ since assumptions about the purpose of education will underpin how education should occur or progress.  For example, if one holds the view that the purpose of education is to get a job then 'suitable education' is likely to be defined in terms of the skills and knowledge needed to reach that outcome.  Whereas, a view of the purpose of education being to produce rounded and participatory citizens is likely to include other skills and knowledge.  The common factors seem to be, in this respect, skills and knowledge development.  Although, these are not the only factors that may be included in an understanding of the purpose of education.  There may be other factors such as building relationships, self-awareness, enlightenment, survival etc.  However, I think we don't all agree about the purpose of education since, in a pluralist society a number of ideologies exist. 

What is the purpose of education and should it be the same for everyone?

Go to my page on child and compulsory education for a discussion...

Also linked is the page about schooling

Why is the question 'what is a suitable education?' important?

Despite the law stating that a child's education is the responsibility of their parents or adult with parental responsibility (cf: Education Act 1996, section 7; Education (Scotland) Act 1980, section 30 (1)), how their children are educated may be one of the most important decisions parents are likely to make on behalf of their children.  Therefore, what children, parents, families, communities and wider society define as 'suitable education' will affect both a) the provision that is available and b) the choices that parents make.

The discussion in the following pages is an exploration of the concept of suitable education from a critical pedagogy perspective, and in particular what it means in relation to an understanding of the age old problem of school disaffection.

Go to my page 'what is suitable education' to read more...