Wizz for Molesworth: British private schools and the making of ‘character’

Portrait

How might a series of children’s books published in the 1950s provide insights into the character of today’s privately educated political leaders?

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Citizenship and media education in contested times: an interview with Shakuntala Banaji

Banaji profile mainIn the second of two posts looking at citizenship and media education, this is an interview with one of the most interesting thinkers and researchers in this area, Professor Shakuntala Banaji.

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Adult fans, children’s culture: the curious case of My Little Pony

amy-lombard-bronies-02@2x copy What’s going on for adult fans of children’s culture? Some thoughts about the bronies, and other adult fans of My Little Pony.

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Deschooling society? Revisiting Ivan Illich after lockdown

All over the world, the school has an anti-educational effect on society.’ Fifty years ago, Ivan Illich’s book Deschooling Society offered a radical challenge to the very institution of the school. How far might it be relevant to the world after lockdown?

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Enemies of promise? Education, culture and meritocracy under the Conservatives

The argument for restoring ‘traditional’ forms of education is based on dubious claims about social justice. Why the argument for meritocracy needs to be challenged. 

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Disinfecting Disney? Tackling the history of representation

The Disney Corporation is putting advisory messages about racial stereotyping on some of its historical films and TV shows. How should we deal with problematic representations from the past?

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Teaching Culture: The Missionary Position

The attempt to civilize the uncultured masses is coming back into style. I look back to the Leavisite approach to popular culture, and its place in the history of English teaching.

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