Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Values are in vogue in education: they are stated in school policies across the land. Amidst the reality of classroom life, however, the very best of intentions can be compromised as the insidious influences of power, pressure, and responsibility come to bear. Living Contradiction charts the journey of Sean Warren, an experienced and successful teacher who became a living contradiction as his authoritarian professional practice became increasingly incongruent with his personal values and aspirations as an educator. This candid account, written in the form of a dual narrative, describes how Warren lost himself in his rigid commitment to upholding standards in the classroom, and documents how his action research project - combined with co-author Stephen Biggers mentoring -helped him find a better way to authenticate his practice without compromising standards or authority. Living Contradiction investigates (he efficacy of Warren's modified approach and tells the story? of how he overcame the incessant demands of classroom tension and disruption by becoming 'confident in uncertainty'. Grappling with both the philosophical and the pragmatic, the authors challenge the status quo on the effectiveness of punishment and authoritarianism in today's schools, and expertly survey a wide range of research in seeking answers to the question that all educationalists must ask: What do we 'want our education system to do for our children:" Suitable for teachers, NQTs, and policy makers, Living Contradiction is a resonatory self-examination of teacher identity and a significant contribution to the debate about how schools and classrooms are run.

1125409629
Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Values are in vogue in education: they are stated in school policies across the land. Amidst the reality of classroom life, however, the very best of intentions can be compromised as the insidious influences of power, pressure, and responsibility come to bear. Living Contradiction charts the journey of Sean Warren, an experienced and successful teacher who became a living contradiction as his authoritarian professional practice became increasingly incongruent with his personal values and aspirations as an educator. This candid account, written in the form of a dual narrative, describes how Warren lost himself in his rigid commitment to upholding standards in the classroom, and documents how his action research project - combined with co-author Stephen Biggers mentoring -helped him find a better way to authenticate his practice without compromising standards or authority. Living Contradiction investigates (he efficacy of Warren's modified approach and tells the story? of how he overcame the incessant demands of classroom tension and disruption by becoming 'confident in uncertainty'. Grappling with both the philosophical and the pragmatic, the authors challenge the status quo on the effectiveness of punishment and authoritarianism in today's schools, and expertly survey a wide range of research in seeking answers to the question that all educationalists must ask: What do we 'want our education system to do for our children:" Suitable for teachers, NQTs, and policy makers, Living Contradiction is a resonatory self-examination of teacher identity and a significant contribution to the debate about how schools and classrooms are run.

24.95 In Stock
Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Living Contradiction:A teacher's examination of tension and disruption in schools, in classrooms and in self

Paperback(B106 ed.)

$24.95 
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Overview

Values are in vogue in education: they are stated in school policies across the land. Amidst the reality of classroom life, however, the very best of intentions can be compromised as the insidious influences of power, pressure, and responsibility come to bear. Living Contradiction charts the journey of Sean Warren, an experienced and successful teacher who became a living contradiction as his authoritarian professional practice became increasingly incongruent with his personal values and aspirations as an educator. This candid account, written in the form of a dual narrative, describes how Warren lost himself in his rigid commitment to upholding standards in the classroom, and documents how his action research project - combined with co-author Stephen Biggers mentoring -helped him find a better way to authenticate his practice without compromising standards or authority. Living Contradiction investigates (he efficacy of Warren's modified approach and tells the story? of how he overcame the incessant demands of classroom tension and disruption by becoming 'confident in uncertainty'. Grappling with both the philosophical and the pragmatic, the authors challenge the status quo on the effectiveness of punishment and authoritarianism in today's schools, and expertly survey a wide range of research in seeking answers to the question that all educationalists must ask: What do we 'want our education system to do for our children:" Suitable for teachers, NQTs, and policy makers, Living Contradiction is a resonatory self-examination of teacher identity and a significant contribution to the debate about how schools and classrooms are run.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781785831775
Publisher: Crown House Publishing
Publication date: 11/30/2017
Edition description: B106 ed.
Pages: 300
Product dimensions: 6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Sean Warren PhD began his career in education in 1988. He proceeded to work with young people in Papua New Guinea, Romania and the United States. Back in the UK, his diverse experience incorporated many roles in education. Sean's current interest involves the use of technology to inform classroom observation and professional development.Stephen Bigger PhD began his career as a secondary teacher and from 1981 was a lecturer in education in teacher training institutes, in Scarborough, Oxford and Worcester, ending as head of department and head of research in education. Over that period he produced three books in collaboration with colleagues, made chapter contributions to others and wrote many articles and book reviews.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements i

Prologue: Sean i

Preface: Stephen ix

Introduction: The Background to the Book 1

1 A Sense of… 7

2 Autobiographical Research 17

Reflexivity 21

Part I Power Over 27

3 Subscribing to Authoritarianism 29

An Authoritarian School 32

The Situation 36

Sanctions 36

Internal Isolation Unit 38

Training Colleagues 43

Staff Disempowerment 47

Inner Emotions 48

Outbursts 50

4 Conceptions of Good and Bad 55

Fear and Blame 59

The Significant Minority 63

Rules 66

5 A Consideration of Curriculum 69

What Is Education For? 71

The Politicisation of Learning 72

Positive School Relationships: Critical Pedagogy 75

Resistance to Authoritarianism 77

Promoting Well-Being: Schooling and Mental Health 78

Part II Methodological Considerations 81

6 Knowledge and Values 83

Application to Research in Education and Schooling 84

Evidence and Evidence-Based Research in Education 86

7 Quality As Measured 89

A Number 91

Accountability 93

A Directed Profession 94

Site of Struggle 96

Positioning 99

My Contextual Settings 100

8 Quality As Experienced 103

Subjective Knowledge 104

Living Logics 106

9 Complexity 109

Interactions 109

Conceptual Fudge 110

Complex Adaptive Systems 111

'Is' Not 'Ought' 114

Clocks or Clouds? 116

Part III Degrees of Resistance: Low Level Disruptions 119

10 Variance 121

Positionality 123

11 Weather Forecast 127

'Can' Not 'Do' 128

Conduct Offers Up Clues 129

Possibility of Localised Showers 131

An Assumption of Quality 132

12 Testing and Challenging Boundaries 137

Rain Cloud Behaviour 138

Crossing the Line 139

Staff Language Conveying Disruptive Incidents 141

Undeterred 142

Theorising Through a Complexity Lens 144

The Significance of Timings 146

13 Recognising Boundaries 149

The 'Means Business' Teacher 153

The 'Scary' Teacher 154

Commentary 154

14 Indistinct Boundaries 157

The Ineffective Teacher 159

15 In-Group/Out-Group 163

Territory 164

Disregard 165

16 Professional Identity 171

Split-Self 171

Self-laceration 172

Sub-identities 173

Part IV Power With 177

17 Classroom Climate 179

Initial Forming Phase 183

Reinforcing Cues During the Re-forming Process 185

'With-it-ness' 189

Collective Responsibility 191

Classroom Climate Questionnaire 192

Secure, Significant, and Valued 193

18 Dark Clouds 197

Hidden Goals 197

Solitary Rain Cloud 201

19 Stormy Weather 209

Analysis of Games 214

Reflexive Turmoil 217

20 React or Respond: Examining the Patterns 219

React 220

Dominating 222

21 Core Gimmicks 225

The Socialised Self, School, and Teachers 227

Exposure 230

Parental Figures 232

Exposed Again 234

22 Transitions 239

Product 239

Servant 241

Agent 244

Authoritative Presence 246

23 Social Dynamics 249

Self-organisation 250

Isolates 253

24 The Teaching and Learning Interaction 257

Reconceptualising 'Disorder' 259

Lesson Observation Model 261

Archetypal Friday Period 5 264

Capturing the Edge of Chaos 266

Part V Working with Colleagues 271

25 Affirmation and the Potential for Continuing Professional Development 273

Established Teacher 273

NQTs 274

Trainee 276

26 A Salutary Reminder: Colleagues and Pupils 279

Harried 279

A Mere Contribution 283

Epilogue 285

Appendix A FIRO Theory 291

Appendix B Temple Index of Functional Fluency (TIFF) Descriptors 293

Appendix C Professional Development 295

References 301

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