Tag Archives: Solidarity

For a pragmatic idealism

Posted on June 28, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

We all have a range of perspectives on education arising from our various roles: professional, personal and political. In those roles, whether as teachers, learners, parents, governors or trade unionists we need to find ways of dealing with the world … Continue reading →

Posted in Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Market madness: condition critical

Posted on June 24, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Market madness: condition critical From Forum vol.57, no.2, 2015 The condition of English education is critical. It has been weakened by pathological marketization and is in desperate need of treatment to restore it to health. In this article, I try to … Continue reading →

Posted in Education policy | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Education for solidarity

Posted on June 7, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

We should work with each other for the common good. Education should develop and support our understanding and consideration of others and our ability to exercise and challenge power collectively.1 Solidarity is a powerful idea but a widely misunderstood word … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Aspiration – what’s that all about?

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

Are you suffering from aspiration fatigue? In a week when Labour leadership contenders were falling over themselves to urge the party to do more to appeal to ‘aspirational’ voters it’s not surprising we’re already tiring of it, especially when it’s … Continue reading →

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Many colleges in one

Posted on April 16, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

A science college, an engineering technical college, a media technical college, a music industry college and several super-selective A-level providers offering a narrow range of subjects to high-achieving students. These are just some of the new sixth forms which have … Continue reading →

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Roberto Unger on school as the ‘voice of the future’

Posted on April 15, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

In his excellent book ‘The Left Alternative’ the Brazilian philosopher and politician Roberto Unger proposes a new way for progressives to think about the future and start creating the good society. Unger suggests we should not give up on the central promise … Continue reading →

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Democratic emotions in the face of barbarism – Philippe Meirieu

Posted on April 8, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

In the aftermath of the massacre of 147 people at Garissa University College in Kenya on 2 April it is difficult to find any positive emotions to draw on. The slaughter of young people in their place of learning shocks … Continue reading →

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Market madness #7: What markets do to us

Posted on March 14, 2015 by Eddie Playfair

The creeping marketization of education has many aspects, each of which changes the way we see ourselves and the way we relate to others. Commodification: If education is seen as a commodity; something which can be consumed and traded, then schools, … Continue reading →

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Learning and xenophilia.

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Xenophobia is the fear of difference or the dislike of foreigners. Across Europe we have seen the rise in support for parties espousing xenophobic views. In difficult times, these parties play the blame game and tap into people’s suspicion and … Continue reading →

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How can we reduce educational inequality?

Posted on September 26, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

Meeting organised by “working towards a national campaign for education” at the Mechanics Institute, Manchester on 23rd September 2014 during the Labour Party conference. Many thanks to Sarah Williams for her work in organising and promoting this meeting. Speakers: David … Continue reading →

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Post-16 citizenship in tough times

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

The times we live in demand more than ever that we assume responsibility for ensuring that all young people are educated for global citizenship, in other words for survival. What might this look like post-16? The context The current context … Continue reading →

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Barack Obama, community organiser

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

I was asked to speak on “Obama as a role model for young people”. To do this I think we need to understand what shaped Barack Obama. He didn’t come from nowhere. Like all of us he comes from somewhere and … Continue reading →

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Don’t be young!

Posted on March 12, 2014 by Eddie Playfair

It’s a tough time to be young. Since 2010, young people have taken quite a battering from policies and cuts which have narrowed their opportunities and limited their prospects of becoming active, fulfilled members of society. All this in a context of … Continue reading →

Posted in Education | Tagged , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Our common values, our common education

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Eddie Playfair

We humans are natural learners. We are born with an insatiable urge to question, understand and master our environment and to communicate with others. Thanks to memory, language, thought and eventually culture and technology we have been able to extend … Continue reading →

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