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EDUC. 435-4 EDUCATIONAL THEORY AND THEORY CRITICSIM

INTERSESSION 1981

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INSTRUCTOR: Prof. Suzanne DeCastell

Tuesday E Friday, 12:30 - 4:20

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LOCATION: Campus

This course will explore the pedagogic utopias within influential educational

theories. Critical perspectives on these utopias will be taken from both

theoretical and practical bases. The relationship of educational theory

to the foundation disciplines of philosophy, sociology, psychology, and to

the context of contemporary educational practice will be examined.

In this way each educational model will be considered in terms of:

1)

the theory of society presupposed,

2)

the theory of learning presupposed,

3)

the concept of human nature and the concept of

knowledge,

as well as the practical potential for implementation in contemporary society.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: During the semester each student will be asked to

prepare for the group two short critical discussion

papers, on different topics. A short critical essay

is to be submitted in the last week of the term. A

mid-term examination will be given. There will be no

final examination for this course.

REQUIRED READINGS: Works to be examined are:

PLATO, Republic

ROUSSEAU, Emile

DEWEY, John; Democracy in Education

SKINNER, B. F.; Walden Two

NEILL, A. S.;

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Summerhill

ILLICH, I.; Deschooling Society

FREIRE, Paulo; Education for Critical Consciousness

All required texts will be available on reserve in multiple copies and *are

presently available in local bookstores. A supplementary reading list and

detailed course outline will be provided during the first week.