Education and Community

(Hardback)

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Notions of "community" are found in almost every educational context from primary schools to HE institutions. Given the polemic nature of promoting community in schools and society today, this fascinating book uses an interdisciplinary approach of political philosophy and sociology to develop theoretical principles for the promotion of communities, and subsequently applies them to the realities of schools and society. This book is fully international, drawing on examples and references from the UK, US and Canada.

Reviews

"I found this book interesting" The Authors Journal Compilation 2009 -- Lyn Tett
"With the contemporary concern about community cohesion and the role of education in such cohesion, the publication of Gereluk's book in paperback is timely...this book might force some thinking." Educational Review, December 2009
'Community is widely thought to be an important educational aim. Education is done through community and to benefit community. But there has been little systematic thinking in education about the relation between education and community. Gereluk (Rodehampton Univ., UK) wants to remedy that by noting the characteristics of community, formulating a philosophical conception of community, and considering contemporary social and school effects on community. She draws primarily on John Rawls's liberal democratic theory for her principles: "communities fall within the constraints of justice," with liberty and equality being the foremost principles. She then considers which community practices should be permissible in liberal education by tackling a number of controversial subjects. These include a Muslim faith community's demands for exemptions from the core curriculum, dress codes and school uniform policies (head scarves), and single-sex schools; and Alan Peshkin's study, in his book God's Choice (1986), of Bethany Baptist Academy, a fundamentalist Christian school that seeks to avoid the influence of secular community. Gereluk makes careful distinctions and is considerate of each community's beliefs. Her chapters "A Liberal Conception of Community" and "Permissible Communities in Liberal Education" are must reading, particularly for school leaders and those involved in politics and education. Summing Up: Highly recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through practitioners. - R. R. Sherman, emeritus, University Florida * Choice *

Author Bio

Dianne Gereluk is Associate Professor in Policy and Leadership Studies at the University of Calgary, Canada, and Senior Research Fellow at Roehampton University, UK. Her research currently examines the parameters of parents' ability to decide the extent to which their children are exposed to and taught about controversial issues in schools. Dianne is also author of Education and Community (Continuum 2006), and Symbolic Clothing in Schools (Continuum 2008).