Morality of the Mass Formal Schooling System - Education, Rights, and Resistance

This book delves into a novel philosophical and moral analysis of the mass formal schooling system. In the light of the routine and unjust systemic harm to primary- and secondary-aged children caused by the mass formal schooling system, the book acknowledges the need for making efforts towards non-harmful educational alternatives.
The book undertakes a rights-based and harm-rejecting critique of the mass formal schooling system, placing its ideologies and practices under the microscope. The volume proposes that students have a right to defend themselves and that others have an obligation to defend them and work towards systems and educational practices rooted in peace and non-harm. Chapters discuss themes such as self-defence, student resistance, and educational vanguardism. Peace education movements and frameworks are considered in a discussion on the development and viability of alternative pedagogical approaches. In examining how the mass schooling system has established itself as the only viable conception of education, making it difficult to imagine the alternatives, the book urges a new reimagining of what education means.
This book is of relevance to researchers of philosophy of education and education studies, academics, postgraduates and scholars of education, and anyone who is interested in a moral analysis of the dominant education system of our time.

List of contents

1. Introduction
2. Rights and the right not to be harmed
3. The mass formal schooling system I: history
4. The mass formal schooling system II: harm
5. Ends, means, and justifying schooling
6. Self- and other-defence I: justification and action
7. Self- and other-defence II: alternatives
8. Conclusion

About the author

Nicholas Parkin teaches humanities at Scots College, New Zealand.

Summary

This book delves into a novel philosophical and moral analysis of the mass formal schooling system. In the light of the routine and unjust systemic harm to primary- and secondary-aged children caused by the mass formal schooling system, the book acknowledges the need for making efforts towards nonharmful educational alternatives.

Product details

• Authors: Nicholas Parkin, Nicholas (Auckland Montessori College Parkin
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd.
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Release: 14.01.2026
• EAN: 9781032954530
• ISBN: 978-1-0-3295453-0
• No. of pages: 162
• Series: New Directions in the Philosophy of Education
• Subjects: Non-fiction book > Politics, society, business > Politics; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > General, dictionaries; EDUCATION / General, EDUCATION / Philosophy, Theory & Social Aspects, EDUCATION / Home Schooling, EDUCATION / Non-Formal Education, EDUCATION / Educational Policy & Reform / School Safety, Politics & government, Educational strategies & policy, Politics and government, Peace studies and conflict resolution, Moral and social purpose of education, Peace studies & conflict resolution, Schools, Schools and pre-schools, Moral & social purpose of education, Educational strategies and policy, EDUCATION / Schools / Levels / Secondary