In this fully updated edition of The Education Debate, Stephen J. Ball guides us through a flood of government initiatives and policies concerning education over the past twenty years, showing how these policy interventions have changed the landscape and meaning of education, turned children into learners and parents into consumers, and played their part in the reformation of contemporary governance. Analyzing current policies and ideas around education from a sociological approach, he addresses issues of class, choice, globalization, race, and citizenship. The book will interest student teachers, other students of politics and social policy courses, and the general reader who wants to go beyond the simplistic analyses of newspapers.

Education was a key political issue for New Labour (1997-2010) and continues to be so under the Coalition government (2010-). It is seen as a crucial factor in ensuring economic productivity and competitiveness, in generating social mobility and tackling social inequality - but are these goals either feasible or compatible? In this fully updated edition of this bestselling book, Stephen J. Ball, a leading author in the field, guides us through the flood of government initiatives and policies of the past 20 years, including the Academies programme, parental choice, Free schools, National Curriculum and teaching standards. He looks at how these policy interventions have changed the landscape and meaning of education, turned children into 'learners' and parents into 'consumers', and played their part in the re-formation of contemporary governance. This authoritative and accessible book uses Ball's sociological approach to the analysis of current policies and ideas around education to address issues of class, choice, globalisation, race and citizenship, as well as the conflicting needs of children and families on the one hand and the economy and the state on the other.

Education is a hot-button political issue across the globe. It is seen as a crucial factor in ensuring economic productivity and competitiveness and in generating social mobility and tackling social inequality--but are these goals feasible or compatible? Focusing on education policy in the United Kingdom, Stephen J. Ball, in this fully updated third edition of The Education Debate, guides us through the flood of government initiatives and policies of the past twenty years. Ball looks at how policy interventions have changed the landscape and meaning of education, turned children into "learners" and parents into "consumers," and played their part in the reformation of contemporary governance.

Debates in Physical Education explores major issues physical education teachers encounter in their daily professional lives. It engages with established and contemporary debates, promotes and supports critical reflection and aims to stimulate both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their own point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. In addition, concerns for the short, medium and long term future of the subject are voiced, with a variety of new approaches proposed. Key issues debated include: What are the aims of physical education? What should be covered in a physical education curriculum? How should we judge success in physical education? Is physical education really for all or is it just for the gifted and talented? Can physical education really combat the rise in obesity? What is the future for physical education in the 21st Century? Debates in Physical Education makes a timely and significant contribution to addressing current contentious issues in physical education. With its combination of expert opinion and fresh insight, this book is the ideal companion for all student and practising teachers engaged in initial teacher education, continuing professional development and Masters level study.

Now in its second edition, Debates in History Teaching remains at the cutting edge of history education. It has been fully updated to take into account the latest developments in policy, research and professional practice. With further exploration into the major issues that history teachers encounter in their daily professional lives, it provides fresh guidance for thinking and practice for teachers within the UK and beyond. Written by a range of experts in history education, chapters cover all the key issues needed for clear thinking and excellent professional action. This book will enable you to reach informed judgements and argue your point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. Debates include: What is happening today in history education? What is the purpose of history teaching? What do history teachers need to know? What are the key trends and issues in international contexts? What is the role of evidence in history teaching and learning? How should you make use of ICT in your lessons? Should moral learning be an aim of history education? How should history learning be assessed? Debates in History Teaching remains essential reading for any student or practising teacher engaged in initial training, continuing professional development or Master's-level study.

Debates in English Teaching explores the major issues all English teachers encounter daily in their professional lives. Written by leading experts in the field, the chapters bring together theoretical knowledge and contemporary perspectives to offer fresh insight into the most salient debates in the field of English teaching. The book supports critical reflection and will help both novice and experienced teachers to reach informed judgements and argue their point of view with deeper theoretical knowledge and understanding. This second edition has been fully updated throughout and features four new chapters. Key debates covered include: Literacy and social class English and difference Digital literacy English and mental wellbeing Reading for pleasure The literary canon The importance of the media and new technologies With its combination of expert opinion and fresh insight, Debates in English Teaching is an ideal companion for all student and practising teachers engaged in initial training, continuing professional development and master’s level study.

This collection of papers, comments, and documents traces the distant and recent history of the Ebonics debate in the USA. The book examines how, despite increasing access to public education over the past century, schools continue to impose language standards and expectations on children that methodically privileges some, while disadvantaging others.