Education and capitalism: struggles for learning and liberation

Description

"In the first decade of the twenty-first century, a conservative, bipartisan consensus dominates about what's wrong with our schools and how to fix them. In each case, those solutions scapegoat teachers, vilify our unions, and promise more private control and market mentality as the answer. In each case, students lose--especially students of color and the children of the working class and the poor. This book, written by teacher activists, speaks back to that elite consensus. It draws on the ideas and experiences of social justice educators concerned with fighting against racism and for equality, and those of activists oriented on recapturing the radical roots of the labor movement. Informed by a revolutionary vision of pedagogy, schools, and education, it paints a radical critique of education in Corporate America, past and present, and contributes to a vision of alternatives for education and liberation. Inside are essays that trace Marxist theories of education under capitalism; outline the historical educational experiences of emergent bilingual and African American students; recap the history of teachers' unions; analyze the neoliberal attack on public schools under Obama; critically appraise Paolo Freire's legacy; and make the historical link between social revolution and struggles for literacy."--Publisher's website. Schools, marxism, and liberation / Sarah Knopp -- The struggle for black education / Brian Jones -- Focus on: The Indian boarding schools / Michele Bollinger -- Linguistic justice at school / Jeff Bale -- Obama's neoliberal agenda for public education / Gillian Russom -- Focus on: Students, parents, and teachers nationwide protest gutting of public education / Rose Aguilar -- Teachers' unions and social justice / Jesse Hagopian and John T. Green -- Focus on: The Madison protests / Dan Trocolli and Sarah Knopp -- Focus on: Teachers' struggle in Oaxaca, Mexico / Jessie Muldoon -- Pedagogy and revolution: reading Freire in context / Adrienne Johnstone and Elizabeth Terzakis -- Focus on: The freedom of schools / Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor -- Literacy and revolution / Megan Behrent.