Lecture 05 Postmodernist critique of sch

SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS: : 

SCHOOL EFFECTIVENESS: The post-modernist critique

HISTORY OF MODERNISM : 

HISTORY OF MODERNISM EVOLUTIONARY PATTERN OF SOCIETIES primitive ? feudal ? modernism System of Government System of Economy System of Knowledge Transition from feudalism to modernism involved Revolution

HISTORY OF MODERNISM : 

Political revolutions ended absolute monarchies and established republican systems of government. Examples: American, French, Russia, Chinese revolutions Political revolution HISTORY OF MODERNISM

Slide 4: 

Pharaoh Akhenaten, Ancient Egypt (1353 BC-1336 BC or 1351 BC-1334 BC)

Slide 5: 

Left: Louis 14th, the ‘Sun King’, Versailles Palace. Centre: Louis 14th dressed as Apollo Helios, the Greco-Roman Sun God in Le Ballet de la Nuit, 1653 Right: Louis 14th, (1638-1715), in his full glory, 1701

History of Modernism : 

The Industrial Revolution transformed land-intensive agrarian economies into capital-intensive industrial economies. The industrial revolution hastened the transformation from feudalism to modernism. Economic Revolution History of Modernism

History of modernism : 

The Enlightenment (18th century) – a revolution of “light” – source of knowledge shifted from revelation to reason. . The Enlightenment - the most important factor that transformed feudalism to modernism. Knowledge Revolution History of modernism

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? : 

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? A big & magnificent “story” – a universal idea that is assumed to be true and good, e.g. religion, fairy tale, capitalism, Marxism, democracy, science, globalization. An era of deconstruction & fragmentation of ‘grand narratives’ (GN) of modernism’. Grand Narrative GNs replaced with ‘mini-narratives’ in post-modernism.

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? : 

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? Economy: Globalization – open markets, competition,etc. Fordist to post-Fordist model of economy. From production to service. From demand anchored in real income to borrowing and credit – culture of consumerism. However, 2 GNs of modernism were deconstructed & replaced with 2 new post-modern MNs.

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? : 

WHAT IS POST-modeRnism? 2. Education: Aim: From human perfection & truth to utilitarianism – as a consumer commodity. Increased vocationalization of curriculum, e.g. in 14-19 UK school curriculum. McDonaldization of education – education like health is now a big service industry.

The post-modernist critique of education : 

The post-modernist critique of education Deschooling Alternatives Illich: IS is an effective tool to engineer conformity in the consumerist economy – a dehumanizing process. ? Homeschooling Open universities Distance education