Private learning, public needs

Viac o knihe

The publication "Private Learning, Public Needs" explores the harmful impacts of neoliberal globalization on education, schooling, and literacy in the United States. It is structured in three parts. Part I, "Neoliberal Globalization and the Question of Adult Literacy Education," consists of two chapters. The first chapter investigates the relationship between neoliberalism and globalization, focusing on the changing role of the state and its influence on local agencies and institutions. It highlights how neoliberal globalization can disregard nation-state borders, particularly in finance and culture, and examines the material effects on educational life, such as curriculum standards. Teacher education programs face challenges in either conforming to neoliberal demands or resisting them to uphold democratic values and effective teaching practices. The second chapter discusses how neoliberal interests hinder adult literacy education goals. Part II, "The Work of Critical Theory in a Neoliberal Age," delves into the contributions of two influential critical theorists, Erich Fromm and Paulo Freire. Chapter three presents Fromm's alternative perspectives on power and authority, while chapter four analyzes Freire's experiences as Secretary of Education in São Paulo, emphasizing the potential for structural transformations in education.