Re-Framing Educational Politics for Social Justice

by Marshall, Catherine; Gerstl-Pepin, Cynthia

• ISBN13: 9780205371426
• ISBN10: 0205371426
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2004-09-28
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

";This book offers a unique approach to the study of the politics of education...Intellectually stimulating."; Larry Hughes, Ph.D, University of Houston ";Interesting and current research in the realm of educational politics... Beautifully written."; Anthony Normore, Ph.D, Florida International University This text challenges leaders, educators and researchers to grapple with the realities of educational politics and to act as positive advocates for social justice. The text offers strategies for educators to understand and take charge of educational politics and includes a range of new approaches to study politics. Each chapter is organized to provide frameworks and findings from traditional as well as new theories and methodologies and political strategies. The whole book is oriented toward building critiquing skills, modeling successful political strategies, and doing politics differently to empower educators and researchers. Features: bull; bull;Includes balanced coverage between practical perspectives and strategies for impacting politics with the theory, research, and methodological insights that will enable readers to formulate studies of politics. bull;Embeds race, gender, sexuality, and multicultural issues within the study of politics so these issues become part and parcel of politics of education. bull;Discusses political dilemmas in the U.S. and compares educational policy outcomes with other countries to demonstrate how countries borrow educational policy strategies from each other (Chapter 7). bull;Every chapter contains Guiding Questions and ends with Exercises that provide practice and skill-building opportunities. The Exercises include provocative questions that require readers to take a stand and/or to speculate, as educational leaders, on the implications of political dilemmas and challenges. bull;Every chapter contains real-life illustrations or vignettes, from highly visible political actors as well as from the often forgotten and marginalized, that demonstrate follow-up on issues and also build readers' skills in interpretation and analysis. bull;An extensive bibliography and useful web links serve as resources to allow readers to seek out original and very far-ranging, up-to-date sources.

Table of Contents

Foreword	ix
Preface	xi
PART I Re-visioning Educational Politics	1	(98)
1 Frameworks for Puzzles in Politics and Policy	3	(34)
What Is Politics? What Is Policy?	4	(2)
Analyzing Behaviors and Arenas in Policy Formulation	6	(18)
Lived Realities: Is It Politics, Policy, or Drama?	6	(18)
Realities of Partisan Politics	24	(6)
Choosing a Lens	30	(1)
Missing Voices and Issues and the Need to Take a Stand	30	(4)
Summary	34	(3)
2 The Politics of Policy Implementation and Analysis	37	(32)
Lived Realities: So What Is School Improvement?	38	(1)
The Structures of Policy and Policy Planning	39	(11)
Cultural Processes of Policy Implementation	50	(8)
Lived Realities: This Needs to Be Done by Tomorrow?	51	(7)
Politics of Education, Policy Studies, and Policy Analysis	58	(6)
Beyond Traditional Policies and Analyses	64	(5)
3 Alternative Visions for Advocacy Politics	69	(30)
Defining Social Justice	72	(1)
Who Frames Policy?	72	(6)
Lived Realities: The Face of Failure	77	(1)
Theories for Re-visioning and Re framing Policies	78	(8)
Lived Realities: Examining the Prospects of Democratic School Reform	84	(2)
Politics from Margin to Center	86	(2)
Proactive Re-visioning and Re framing	88	(1)
Promising Approaches to Analysis of Politics and Policy	89	(4)
Lived Realities: Promoting Development via Girls' Education	92	(1)
Examples of Policy Re framing: Accountability Policies	93	(3)
Summary	96	(3)
PART II Multiple Arenas of Educational Politics	99	(134)
4 Micropolitics: Uncovering "Hidden" Power	101	(26)
Defining Micropolitics	102	(2)
Lived Realities: James's Story: Whose Perspective Counts?	103	(1)
The Dynamics of Site Micropolitics	104	(3)
Re framing Micropolitical Perspectives	107	(7)
Micropolitical Themes	114	(3)
Uncovering Agency in Micropolitics	117	(3)
Emerging Micropolitical Challenges: The Politics of Denial and Areas of Silence	120	(5)
Lived Realities: Jamie Nabozny	121	(2)
Lived Realities: Uncovering Racism: Native American Mascots and the Media	123	(2)
Summary	125	(2)
5 Democracy and Community in District Politics	127	(29)
Lived Realities: Bible as History	128	(1)
The Characters on Boards and in the Central Office	129	(4)
Ways to Look at District Politics and Policy	133	(10)
Lived Realities: Converting Closets into Classrooms?	137	(6)
Controversies and Challenges for Districts	143	(7)
Deconstructing and Critiquing Democratic Schooling	150	(3)
Summary	153	(3)
6 State Policy Shifts and Cultural Idiosyncrasies	156	(25)
Shifts in the Role of State Education Policies	157	(2)
Key State Policy Makers and Arenas of Power	159	(2)
Ways to Analyze State Politics and Policy	161	(10)
Lived Realities: Under the Radar	165	(6)
Controversies and Challenges for States	171	(5)
Re-visioning and Re framing Expanding State Policy	176	(3)
Lived Realities: Am I Not Working Hard Enough?	177	(2)
Summary	179	(2)
7 Federal Policy Communities, Interest Groups, and Standards	181	(27)
The Evolving Federal Role in Education	182	(5)
Lived Realities: The Creation of the Department of Education	183	(4)
Federal Policy Mechanisms	187	(8)
Conceptual Lenses for Studying Federal Policy	195	(7)
Lived Realities: Sometimes One Vote Can Make a Difference	200	(2)
Challenges to Dominant Politics and Policy	202	(4)
Lived Realities: Lobbying to View Art as a Basic	204	(2)
Summary	206	(2)
8 Global Education Politics	208	(25)
The Politics of International Comparisons	209	(1)
Actors, Arenas, and Structures for International Policy	210	(2)
Lived Realities: TIMSS Lessons	211	(1)
Trends in Cross-National Comparison of Educational Policy	212	(2)
Relevant Questions for International Comparisons	214	(2)
Identifying New Policy Strategies	216	(1)
Identifying Differing Goals and Values for Education	217	(1)
International Sharing and Borrowing	218	(1)
Continuing Challenges and Controversies	219	(7)
Politics from the Margin: An International Example	226	(4)
Summary	230	(3)
PART III Making Connections for Policy Action	233	(60)
9 Intertwined Policies, Pendulum Shifts, and Interconnections	235	(28)
Realities and Interconnections	235	(6)
Lived Realities: Re-visioning Policy Problems through Ryan's Eyes	240	(1)
The Politics of Policy Making for Children	241	(4)
Interconnections and Paradoxes	245	(6)
Lived Realities: Congress's Grand Plans Meet the Realities of State Capacities	247	(1)
Lived Realities: Confounded Policies: Who's in Charge: Site, District, State, or Federal?	248	(3)
Unanticipated Consequences and Hidden Goals	251	(5)
Lived Realities: Alternative Education in Texas	253	(2)
Lived Realities: Going Home	255	(1)
Lived Realities: Incentives to Discourage Student Aspiration	256	(1)
Interrelationships among Organizations and Interest Groups	256	(5)
Lived Realities: Satan's Mission	259	(2)
Summary	261	(2)
10 Strategies for Policy Advocates	263	(30)
Engaging Political Arenas	263	(4)
Lived Realities: Mr. Venable Speaks Truth to Power	264	(3)
Models for Leadership and Political Involvement	267	(5)
Lived Realities: "NAACP Chief Convicted in School Protest"	272	(1)
Developing a Platform and Articulating a Stance	272	(3)
Lived Realities: Both Arguments Sound Good	273	(2)
Lived Realities: Taking a Stand against Federal Intrusion	275	(1)
Advocacy Policy Analysis	275	(6)
Getting Real	281	(2)
Policy Advocacy Coalitions	283	(2)
Building Advocacy Coalitions	285	(4)
Lived Realities: Walking the Tightrope of State Control	286	(3)
Summary	289	(4)
References	293	(20)
Index	313