Making Sense of Education

Making Sense of Education provides a contemporary introduction to the key issues in educational philosophy and theory. Exploring major past and present conceptions of education, teaching and learning, this book makes philosophy of education relevant to the professional practice of teachers and student teachers, as well of interest to those studying education as an academic subject. The book is divided into three parts: education, teaching and professional practice: issues concerning education, the role of the teacher, the relationship of educational theory to practice and the wider moral dimensions of pedagogy learning, knowledge and curriculum: issues concerning behaviourist and cognitive theories of learning, knowledge and meaning, curriculum aims and content and evaluation and assessment schooling, society and culture: issues of the wider social and political context of education concerning liberalism and communitarianism, justice and equality, differentiation, authority and discipline.
This timely and up-to-date introduction assists all those studying and/or working in education to appreciate the main philosophical sources of and influences on present day thinking about education, teaching and learning

The vast majority of the contents of the book have been obtained through publicly available sources, with some content available only through old copies of "Ruym" magazine and the author's own private collection of Chatham House memorabilia, including photographs and documents. Other content has been made available by word of mouth, personal experience of the writer, books and photos donated to the Old Ruymians' Club. All copyright is acknowledged by creators of original photographs and artwork.

Part I: Education, Teaching and Professional Practice 1. Education, Persons and Schooling 2. The Complex Character of Teaching 3. The Complex Role of the Teacher 4. Educational Theory and Practice 5. Wider Moral Implications of Education Part II: Learning, Knowledge and Curriculum 6. Learning: Behaviour, Perception and Cognition 7. Learning: Meaning, Language and Culture 8. Knowledge, Explanation and Understanding 9. Curriculum: Purpose, Form and Content 10. Curriculum: Process, Product and Appraisal Part III: Schooling, Society and Culture 11. Liberalism, Impartiality and Liberal Education 12. Community, Identity and Cultural Inheritance 13. Justice, Equality and Difference 14. Freedom, Authority and Discipline 15. Political Dimensions of Education