The Limits of educational reform
An analysis of educational reforms in USA which were introduced with the aim to eliminate or alleviate social inequalities. The authors argue that it is not possible to equalize income distribution and employment opportunities through educational reforms because the sources of inequality emanate from the economic system and not from educational attainment. They reject the view that inequalities are due to genetic factors in intellectual capability. The failure to reform the social and economic system through education stems from the inability to alter a schooling system which is the reproduction of society. The structure of work must be changed to make it more cooperative and oriented towards workers' needs. This in turn will be reflected in the schooling system which will loose some of its hierarchical structure and competitiveness. Both work reforms and educational reforms can be micro- or macro-changes of either a technical or political nature. However, micro-technical changes have little impact on the social system. An analysis of three different reforms directed at children from low-income groups shows that they did not have the expected equalizing effects. These three reforms were related to modes of financing, to the attainment of cognitive skills through mastery learning, and to compensatory education programmes
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | book biblioteca |
| Language: | eng |
| Published: |
Longman
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| Subjects: | Democratization of education, Educational reform, Social change, Universal education, |
| Online Access: | https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000167165 |
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