Disability and the Politics of Education
An International Reader
Scot Danforth editor Susan L Gabel editor
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Peter Lang Publishing Inc
Published:23rd Jul '08
Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back
This hardback is available in another edition too:
- Paperback£45.20(9780820488943)
Disability and the Politics of Education: An International Reader is a rich resource that deals comprehensively with the many aspects of the complex topic of disability studies in education. For nearly two decades, global attention has been given to education as a human right through global initiatives such as Education for All (EFA) and the Salamanca Statement. Yet according to UNESCO, reaching the goals of EFA remains one of the most daunting challenges facing the global community. Today, millions of the world’s disabled children cannot obtain a basic childhood education, particularly in countries with limited resources. Even in the wealthiest countries, many disabled children and youth are educationally segregated from the nondisabled, particularly if they are labeled with significant cognitive impairment. International agencies such as the United Nations and the World Bank have generated funds for educational development but, unfortunately, these funds are administered with the assumption that «west is best», thereby urging developing countries to mimic educational policies in the United States and the United Kingdom in order to prove their aid-worthiness. This «McDonaldization» of education reproduces the labeling, resource allocation, and social dynamics long criticized in disability studies. The authors in this volume explore these subjects and other complexities of disability and the politics of education. In doing so, they demonstrate the importance and usefulness of international perspectives and comparative approaches.
«One of the exciting aspects of this collection is the range of topics that the contributors investigate empirically and theoretically. We have so little awareness and knowledge of the nature and dangers of the unquestioning dominance of western ideas. To read the chapters in this collection is to reinforce the perennial significance of a critical, questioning approach to inclusive thinking, disability issues, research, and practice. The questions which the contributors raise in each chapter provide a powerful stimulus for further reflection and active critical engagement. Reading this book has been a demanding, thought-provoking, and valuable experience. The volume is a great resource, providing a rich range of ideas, questions, and interesting sources to be explored.» (Len Barton, Emeritus Professor of Inclusive Education, Institute of Education, University of London)
«One of the exciting aspects of this collection is the range of topics that the contributors investigate empirically and theoretically. We have so little awareness and knowledge of the nature and dangers of the unquestioning dominance of western ideas. To read the chapters in this collection is to reinforce the perennial significance of a critical, questioning approach to inclusive thinking, disability issues, research, and practice. The questions which the contributors raise in each chapter provide a powerful stimulus for further reflection and active critical engagement. Reading this book has been a demanding, thought-provoking, and valuable experience. The volume is a great resource, providing a rich range of ideas, questions, and interesting sources to be explored.» (Len Barton, Emeritus Professor of Inclusive Education, Institute of Education, University of London)
ISBN: 9780820488950
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 1050g
668 pages