The Politics, Practices, and Possibilities of Migrant Children Schools in Contemporary China (Palgrave Studies on Chinese Education in a Global Perspective)

Winner of the AERA Division B Outstanding Book Recognition Award This book examines the dynamics surrounding the education of children in the unofficial schools in China’s urban migrant communities. This ethnographic study focuses on both the complex structural factors impacting the education of children attending unofficial migrant children schools and the personal experiences of individuals working within these communities. As the book illustrates in careful detail, the migrant children schools serve a critical function in the community by serving as a hub for organized collective action around shared grievances related to issues of education, employment, wellbeing, and other social rights. In turn, the development of a collective identity among teachers, students, parents, and other members in the migrant communities makes it possible for activists to begin to working to address multiple forms of discrimination and maltreatment while simultaneously moving towards the possibility of more profound social transformation. Dedication -- Foreword -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- List of Tables -- Chapter 1: Introduction -- A Brief History of Migration -- Social Movements and Civil Society in the Chinese Context -- Encounters with Migrant Children Schools -- Organization of the Book -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 2: Mobile Children and Migrant Children Schools -- Mobile Children -- The Hidden Context -- Migrant Children Schools and Their Challenges -- Mobility -- Marginality -- The Debate Over Migrant Children Schools -- Negotiation with Policies and Regulations -- The Stage of Vague Governmental Responsibilities -- The Stage of Reemphasizing Governmental Control -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 3: Early Development: Geography and Social Networks -- Social Capital, Networks, and Guanxi -- Early Development: Geography and Social Networks -- The Development Trajectory -- Principal Hu -- Forming Solidarity Within the Communities -- Brother Peng -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 4: Curriculum, Contribution, and Community -- Mobilization Potential and Resources for the Migrant Children Schools' Movement -- Mobilization Potential -- Resources -- Support from Outside of Migrant Communities -- Migrant Children Schools' Curriculum: Challenges and Opportunities -- Organized Mobilization Beyond the Migrant Communities -- Candlelight Communication and the Home for Migrant Teachers in Beijing -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 5: Counternarrative of Work, Life, and Solidarity in Urban Cities -- Contextualizing Gender and Class -- Devalued Work -- Their Work Matters -- Fang Laoshi: "Once a Teacher, Forever a Teacher"--Solidarity and Resistance Among Teachers -- Care, Well-Being, and Emotional Support -- Developing Resistance -- Notes -- References -- Chapter 6: Demolition and Relocation -- Reactions to Demolition and Relocation -- The Sunny School's Stories Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Introduction....Pages 1-24 Mobile Children and Migrant Children Schools....Pages 25-48 Early Development: Geography and Social Networks....Pages 49-67 Curriculum, Contribution, and Community....Pages 69-81 Counternarrative of Work, Life, and Solidarity in Urban Cities....Pages 83-108 Demolition and Relocation....Pages 109-131 Mobilization and Actions....Pages 133-144 Conclusion....Pages 145-156 Back Matter....Pages 157-191