Teaching About Hegemony - Race, Class and Democracy in the 21st Century

Political progressives in Canada and the United States are deeply concerned by the manner in which their countries treat their poor. They are dismayed at the dismantling of the social welfare state, the weakening of public education systems and the grotesque and ever-growing inequality of wealth. To remedy this problem, citizens need to be more aware of how political ideology influences attitudes and actions, and they need to better comprehend the effects of hegemonic discourses in the corporate media and school curriculum. This book informs educators how to develop context-specific pedagogy that will help achieve a more enlightened citizenry and, as a result, a stronger democracy.
 
Teaching about Hegemony: Race, Class and Democracy in the 21^st Century promotes a progressive agenda for teaching that is rooted in critical pedagogy, it explains why ideological critique is necessary in raising political consciousness, it deconstructs white, middle-class hegemony in the formal school curriculum, and it examines corporate media and school curriculum as hegemonic devices. It also covers recent theory and research about race, class and democracy and how best to teach about these topics. Combining theory and sociological research with pedagogical approaches and classroom narratives, this book is fundamental for progressive educators interested in developing a politically conscious, progressive and active citizenry hungry for a stronger civil society.

List of contents

Chapter 1: An Introduction.- PART A: Mostly Theory - Ideology, Discourse, Hegemony & the Curriculum.- Chapter 2: What's Ideology Got to do With It?.- Chapter 3:  The Power of Discourse.- Chapter 4:  The Purpose of  Schooling: Ideology in the Formal and 'Enacted' Curriculum.- PART B: Less Theory, More Applications and Practice: Deconstructing Racial and Class Discourses for a Stronger Democracy.- Chapter 5: Teaching about Race & Racism in Our Past & Present.- Chapter 6:  Social Class - The Forgotten Identity Marker in Social Studies Education.- Chapter 7:  Liberal Discourses About Aboriginal Students  - A Case Study of Power Blindness.- Chapter 8:  Ideology, Democracy and the 'Good' Citizen.- Chapter 9: Neoliberalism: Laissez Faire Economics Revisited?.- Chapter 10: Some Final Reflections - Dare the Schools Teach for a Fair Social Order?. 

Summary

Political progressives in Canada and the United States are deeply concerned by the manner in which their countries treat their poor. They are dismayed at the dismantling of the social welfare state, the weakening of public education systems and the grotesque and ever-growing inequality of wealth. To remedy this problem, citizens need to be more aware of how political ideology influences attitudes and actions, and they need to better comprehend the effects of hegemonic discourses in the corporate media and school curriculum. This book informs educators how to develop context-specific pedagogy that will help achieve a more enlightened citizenry and, as a result, a stronger democracy.
 
Teaching about Hegemony: Race, Class and Democracy in the 21^st Century promotes a progressive agenda for teaching that is rooted in critical pedagogy, it explains why ideological critique is necessary in raising political consciousness, it deconstructs white, middle-class hegemony in the formal school curriculum, and it examines corporate media and school curriculum as hegemonic devices. It also covers recent theory and research about race, class and democracy and how best to teach about these topics. Combining theory and sociological research with pedagogical approaches and classroom narratives, this book is fundamental for progressive educators interested in developing a politically conscious, progressive and active citizenry hungry for a stronger civil society.

Additional text

From the book reviews:
“Orlowski’s Teaching About Hegemony is insightful, demonstrative, and necessary. … Orlowski offers a polemic for teachers to become knowledgeable about and attentive to the hegemonic effects of neoliberal discourses channeled through media and to see curriculum as a political document with omission of and overture toward a notion of democracy distilled of race and class consciousness. … a good read for educators regardless of their level of formalized education.” (Bonnie L. Stelmach, Canadian Journal of Education, Vol. 36 (3), 2013)
“In Teaching About Hegemony (2011), Paul Orlowski has written a very useful book. … The book is designed for teacher education candidates and perhaps for master’s level courses as well. Its objective seems to be about shifting teachers’ consciousness so they will be able to infuse their teaching with a critical understanding of the depth and subtlety of oppression in contemporary capitalism.” (Michael Corbett, TeachingEducation, Vol. 23 (4), December, 2012)
“This is a timely and important book. Throughout it, Orlowski calls for action from an informed citizenry, of which teachers figure prominently. … This is a must-read for any educator committed to challenging hegemony and should be required reading for educators content with the status quo.” (Jennifer A. Tupper, Democracy & Education, Vol. 20 (2), 2012)

Report

From the book reviews:
"Orlowski's Teaching About Hegemony is insightful, demonstrative, and necessary. ... Orlowski offers a polemic for teachers to become knowledgeable about and attentive to the hegemonic effects of neoliberal discourses channeled through media and to see curriculum as a political document with omission of and overture toward a notion of democracy distilled of race and class consciousness. ... a good read for educators regardless of their level of formalized education." (Bonnie L. Stelmach, Canadian Journal of Education, Vol. 36 (3), 2013)
"In Teaching About Hegemony (2011), Paul Orlowski has written a very useful book. ... The book is designed for teacher education candidates and perhaps for master's level courses as well. Its objective seems to be about shifting teachers' consciousness so they will be able to infuse their teaching with a critical understanding of the depth and subtlety of oppression in contemporary capitalism." (Michael Corbett, TeachingEducation, Vol. 23 (4), December, 2012)
"This is a timely and important book. Throughout it, Orlowski calls for action from an informed citizenry, of which teachers figure prominently. ... This is a must-read for any educator committed to challenging hegemony and should be required reading for educators content with the status quo." (Jennifer A. Tupper, Democracy & Education, Vol. 20 (2), 2012)

Product details

• Authors: Paul Orlowski
• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 01.02.2012
• EAN: 9789400738812
• ISBN: 978-94-0-073881-2
• No. of pages: 216
• Weight: 399 g
• Illustrations: XVI, 216 p.
• Series: Explorations of Educational Purpose; Explorations of Educational Purpose
• Subject: Humanities, art, music > Education > Education system