From Publishers Weekly:
In this collection of essays that originated at a conference sponsored by a group of national academic organizations, the issue of pedagogical advocacy, as well as authority in the classroom, is addressed from a wide range of opinion and practice by 42 graduate and undergraduate professors (and one secondary school teacher). Because the issue involves questions of academic freedom, political correctness and cultural diversity, there are fundamental disagreements as well as large areas of convergence among the contributors here. Viewpoints range from Gertrude Himmelfarb's wariness about postmodernism and its "denial that there is any such thing as knowledge, truth, reason, or objectivity" to Louis Menand's arguing for pedagogical passion that "must always characterize the good teacher." This well-organized, provocatively diverse collection should promote dialogue and discussion among academics. Spacks is professor of English at the University of Virginia.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal:
Everyone has an opinion as to whether (or how) teachers should express their own viewpoints in the classroom. With unique style and approach, this volume recognizes that the answer to such an important social controversy lies in a subtle confluence of arguments by thinkers from all sides of the political spectrum. One leaves the ensemble with a strong sense that a coherent and rational argument has been made, despite obvious political bias among the contributors, for an enlightened role of advocacy without indoctrination. The breadth of treatment and essay structure is lively and appealing for students, teachers, and researchers. As the first such work to tackle the issue of advocacy in this way, the volume cries out for a similar project dealing with the role of advocacy in the K-12 curriculum, a more contentious but equally compelling issue. Highly recommended for all education collections.?Jessica George, Illinois State Univ. Lib., Normal
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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