University of Winchester

Education Studies, Education Studies (Early Childhood)

 

ES 3208: Current Issues in Schooling

 

Janice de Sousa

Tuesday 3-5pm, SS 2

 

 

Introduction

Education issues are almost constantly in the headlines, and headlines are constantly controversial. Clearly, education is seen as a political and moral issue, but as we saw in the first year module ES 1203 1944 & 1988: The Acts, political parties, the teaching profession, public and the media are by no means united in how policy should proceed.  This module explores the ideologies and values that underpin such debates, and critically examines the role of the media in shaping public opinion: particularly in the context of how perceptions of (and responses to) social class, religion, disability and gender frame educational discussions.

 

 

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module you will have demonstrated:

§        an ability to employ theorists critically in relation issues

§        an ability to use concepts as critical tools in discussing issues and questions as appropriate

§        an ability to employ theoretical perspectives as critical tools

§        a critical synthesis, informed and deepened by appropriate use of theory as critique.

 

Assessment

The module will be assessed by Presentation (40%) and Essay (60%).

 

The presentation element of the assessment will take the form of a debate held in week 9, 10, 11 or 12. The usual procedures for debates apply, and you can remind yourselves of these by referring to the guidelines included in the module outline for ES 1202 Principles in Education. The subjects and organisation of the debates will arranged in week 2. You should immediately start researching the specific subject matter of your debate, in order to effectively apply the analytical perspectives and techniques studied in the taught sessions.

 

The 2500 word essay must be submitted by Tuesday  week 12 (15 December 2009) and the title is:

 

Citing recent newspaper coverage of a specific issue, critically discuss the view that the representation of education is a struggle for power

 

A hard copy of the relevant newspaper coverage for this assignment must be attached to the essay.

 

Select here for more information on debates.

 

Select here for essay guidance.

 

 

Preparatory work

In this module, we will engage with the ways in which current issues in education are presented in the media, and in particular, the newspapers.  Keep an eye and ear out for articles in newspapers and on news programmes on educational issues: you will be expected to discuss a news article in detail each week!  Throughout the module, we will examine the ideological uncertainties (and certainties?) underpinning the debates in an attempt to elucidate the ambiguity and bias inherent in today’s reporting of similar issues.

 

Resources

In addition to the newspapers on the ground floor of the library, there is a large web-based resource for this module. There are a number of links to newspaper sites on online resources from the library home page. You should set aside some time each week to keep up to date with the newspapers and news websites as we will begin each session with a discussion of the week’s events. The Department for Education and Skills website has useful content that is regularly updated: http://www.dfes.gov.uk

 

You should also get into the habit of reading the Times Educational Supplement (published each Friday and available in the University Library). This will also be of great use in preparation for PGCE interviews!

 

Other sources of up-to-date educational debate are the academic journals, also on the ground floor of the library. Suggested readings are given for each week, but they are by no means the only articles on the subject.

 

 

Viewing

Newsnight 10.30pm weeknights BBC2

Question Time 10.35pm BBC1 Thursdays

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

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