Social Realism, Knowledge and the Sociology of Education : Coalitions of the Mind

This key monograph is both timely and important in bringing together seminal papers in the emergence of an increasingly influential school of thought in the study of knowledge and education.>

Brings together for the first time articles that have played key roles in the emergence of an increasingly influential school of thought for a realist sociology of education that places knowledge at its heart.

This timely volume covers issues in the sociology of knowledge, the educational system and policy, professional autonomy, vocational education, educational research and teaching, as well as the nature of such disciplines as cultural studies, English, science and the arts.

The chapters directly address the nature of sociology of education itself. The realist position developed in the book challenges two major currents of thought that have for a long time been prominent and influential in sociology and education: postmodernism and progressivism/constructivism.

This well-edited collection of papers is provocative and original in that it represents a sustained, collective critique that offers a genuine alternative to these current orthodoxies.

Social Realism, Knowledge and the Sociology of Education......Page 2 Contents......Page 4 List of Contributors......Page 5 Acknowledgements......Page 6 Introduction......Page 8 1. Reconceptualizing Knowledge and the Curriculum in the Sociology of Education......Page 21 2. Analysing Knowledge Claims and Practices: Languages of Legitimation......Page 41 3. ‘Voice Discourse’ and the Problem of Knowledge and Identity......Page 67 4. Promoting Official Pedagogic Identities:The Sacred and the Profane......Page 88 5. Competency-Based Training, Powerful Knowledge and the Working Class......Page 100 6. Knowledge and Truth in Sociology of Education......Page 117 7. Knowledge Structures and the Canon: A Preference for Judgements......Page 137 8. Canons and Progress in the Arts and Humanities: Knowers and Gazes......Page 161 References......Page 186 Index......Page 198 This volume covers issues in the sociology of knowledge, the educational system and policy, professional autonomy, vocational education, educational research and teaching, as well as the nature of such disciplines as cultural studies, English, science and the arts. The chapters also directly address the nature of sociology of education itself.The realist position developed in the book challenges two major currents of thought that have for a long time been prominent and influential in sociology and postmodernism and progressivism/constructivism. This well-edited collection of papers is provocative and original in that it represents a sustained, collective critique that offers a genuine alternative to these current orthodoxies. This key volume is both timely and important in bringing together for the first time seminal papers and new material to examine an increasingly influential school of thought: realist sociology of education that places knowledge at its heart. This volume covers issues in the sociology of knowledge, the educational system and policy, professional autonomy, vocational education, educational research and teaching, as well as the nature of such disciplines as cultural studies, English, science and the arts. The chapters also directly address the nature of sociology of education itself. The realist Bringing together articles that find common ground in their alterity, this book covers issues in the vocational education, the sociology of knowledge, the educational system & policy, educational research, teaching & professional autonomy, as well as the nature of such disciplines as cultural studies, English, science & the arts