A Language of Freedom and Teachers Authority: Case Comparisons from Turkey and the United States

(Hardback)

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A Language of Freedom and Teachers Authority: Case Comparisons from Turkey and the United States explores dimensions of authority that are deeply embedded in the profession of teaching. It examines critical dimensions of the foundations of Turkish and U.S. public education, both of which are under new pressures due to changes in the relationship between public schooling and current reforms in education. The contributors reflect on varied dimensions of authority, of which ideals are shifting under political and economic pressures. In both Turkey and the U.S, public education reflects the early influence of secular equalitarianism, revolutionary democratic developments, and an Enlightenment-based sense of the human right to education. Against this, we see the opposing dialectic where state control and curricular censorship and constriction appear too often.

Reviews

Coming together for what may seem an unlikely collaboration of scholars from Turkey and the United States, each of these teachers of conscience (hocam) grapple with authentic inquiry into forms of teacher authority to ground effective and sustained struggle for freedom. They work within and against the naked instrumentalism of global neoliberalism that seeks to annihilate citizen agency as it transforms all levels of schooling into preparation for a new world order of alternative facts, exponential economic exploitation, and unfettered ravaging of the planet. As these progressive colleagues bear witness, the fire of their passion and the courage of their action inspire a profound sense of urgency that compels readers to take new action. -- Carolyne J. White, Rutgers University-Newark
Can teachers save nations Has democracy really slipped into the abyss in the teaching profession in Turkey and also in the United StatesThis courageous book, the brainchild of Mzkac and Senese,ushers a brave clarion callin essaysfor all of us who revere and respect the teaching profession, democratic academic process and the treasured ultimate outcome: enlightened, caring students.Trulya collection to ponder and use as a basis of action to calibrate the profession. -- Frankie Hutton, NJ State Amistad Commissioner
A Language of Freedom and Teachers Authority: Teachers Authority: Case Comparisons from Turkey and the United States seems to be a product of big efforts especially in its focus on the topics rarely discussed in Turkey. I believe this reading inspires teachers and academics to withstand in defiance of their freedom in the classroom even though they have to teach in a hegemonic system. In this regard this book is a big contribution to the field as it addresses to practitioners particularly. -- Rfat Okabol, Boazii University

Author Bio

Fatma Mzkac is associate professor at the faculty of educational sciences at Ankara University. Guy Senese is professor in foundations of education in the Department of Educational Leadership at Northern Arizona University.