Aims Of Education (routledge International Studies In The Philosophy Of Education, 7)

THE AIMS OF EDUCATION For many years, the aims of education have been informed by liberalism, with an emphasis on autonomy.The aim has been to equip students mentally to be autonomous individuals, able to live self-directed lives. In this volume, international philosophers of education explore and question diverse strains of the liberal tradition, discussing not only autonomy but also other key issues, such as: • • • • • social justice national identity curriculum critical thinking social practices The contributors write from a variety of standpoint, offering many interpretations of what liberalism might mean in educational terms. The result is a challenging collection of new research, which is sure to stimulate debate. The Aims of Education will have wide appeal among philosophers, educationists, teachers, policy makers and those interested in the future of education. Roger Marples is a Senior Lecturer in Education at the Roehampton Institute, London, where he has overall responsibility for the degree in Education. He has extensive teaching experience and served on the Associated Examining Board’s Working Party on Philosophy, which successfully pioneered A Level Philosophy. ROUTLEDGE INTERNATIONAL STUDIES IN THE PHILOSOPHY OF EDUCATION 1 EDUCATION AND WORK IN GREAT BRITAIN, GERMANY AND ITALY Edited by A, Jobert, C. Marry, L.Tanguy and H. Rainbird 2 EDUCATION,AUTONOMY AND DEMOCRATIC CITIZENSHIP Philosophy in a changing world Edited by David Bridges 3 THE PHILOSOPHY OF HUMAN LEARNING Christopher Winch 4 EDUCATION, KNOWLEDGE AND TRUTH Beyond the postmodern impasse Edited by David Carr 5 VIRTUE THEORY AND MORAL EDUCATION Edited by David Carr and Jan Steutel 6 DURKHEIM AND MODERN EDUCATION Edited by Geoffrey Walford and W. S. F. Pickering 7 THE AIMS OF EDUCATION Edited by Roger Marples THE AIMS OF EDUCATION Edited by Roger Marples London and New York First published 1999 by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane, London EC4P 4EE This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2002. Simultaneously published in the USA and Canada by Routledge 29 West 35th Street, New York, NY 10001 Editorial material and selection © 1999 Roger Marples Individual chapters © 1999 the individual contributors All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publishers. British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data The aims of education / edited by Roger Marples. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. 1. Education—Aims and objectives. 2. Education—Philosophy. 3. Autonomy (Psychology) 4. Educational change. I. Marples, Roger. LB41.A36353 1999 370' . 1—dc21 98–42157 CIP ISBN 0-415-15739-0 (Print Edition) ISBN 0-203-00398-5 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-20027-6 (Glassbook Format) CONTENTS 1 List of contributors Preface vii x Aims! Whose aims? 1 KEVIN HARRIS 2 ‘Or what’s a heaven for?’ The importance of aims in education 14 ROBIN BARROW 3<