Series:

Critical Social Thought

2 total works

Cover of The Struggle for the Soul of Teacher Education

The Struggle for the Soul of Teacher Education is a much-needed exploration of the unprecedented current controversies and debates over teacher education and professionalism. Set within the context of neo-liberal education reforms across the globe, the book explores how the current struggles over teaching and teacher education in the US came about, as well as reflections on where we should head in the future. Zeichner provides specific examples of work that moves teacher education toward greater congruency between ideals and practices, while outlining the basis for a new form of community-based teacher education, where universities and other program providers, local communities, school districts, and teacher unions share responsibility for the preparation of teachers. Ultimately, Zeichner problematizes an uncritical shift to more practice and clinical experience, and discusses the enduring problems of clinical teacher education that need to be addressed for this shift to be educative.

Readers are sure to gain insight on transforming teacher education so it more adequately addresses the need to prepare teachers capable of providing a high-quality education with access to a rich and broad curriculum, and culturally and community responsive teaching for everyone’s children.

Cover of Teacher Education and the Social Conditions of Schooling
It is widely acknowledged in Britain and the US that teacher education has a profound role to play in the move towards a more just and humane society. The authors set out a social reconstructionist agenda for American teacher education which may be of interest to educators world-wide. "Teacher Education and the Social Conditions of Schooling" begins with an analysis of four traditions of reform; academic, social efficiency, developmentalist, and social reconstructivist. The authors formulate their aims within the latter tradition and present a series of proposals to help prospective teachers examine their educational beliefs, practices and the social context of schooling. The arguments are backed by examples from various teacher education programmes in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. This book should be of interest to researchers in teacher education and sociology of education.