Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework: Critical Social Theory and Critical Education Theory Many social issues occur in public and private schools concerning race, class, and gender. These social issues can be analyzed using the lens of critical social theory and critical education theory. These theoretical frameworks capture the social issues that occur in public and private schools and relate them to the society as a whole. More specifically, the critical social theory and critical education theory considers the relationship between social change and social struggle (Clark, 2006). I will discuss below how critical social theory and critical education theory relates to the social issues found in public and private education institutions, but first I will discuss the basics of critical theory and critical social theory. Critical Theory In general, critical theory points out that societies of the West are problematically democratic and free (Denzin & Lincoln, 2005). Critical researchers understand the relationship between social structures and ideological patterns of thought, especially concerning the limiting of confronting and changing unjust social systems (Clark, 2006). Critical theorists and researchers apply their work to criticize social issues in education systems and create basic assumptions about those social situations (Kincheloe & McLaren, 2005). Critical Social Theory Critical social theory is a broader category of theoretical production than critical theory and includes subsets such as sociological theory, race and ethnic theory, cultural theory and literary theory (Leonardo, 2004). This theory was used predominantly in the Frankfurt School in Germany (Leonardo et al 2004). A critical social theorist is p... ... middle of paper ... ...t parents are presented with the option to enroll their child in another school, but in most cases low socioeconomic families cannot afford to take their child out of a poor performing public school and into better performing public schools or private schools. This is because the parents have an inability to make enough money to provide transportation to take their children to schools outside of their neighborhood community. Conclusion There are social struggles that are observed in society. Those same struggles are also noticed in public and private schools. They stem from inequalities in race and socioeconomic class. By using the lens of critical social theory and critical education theory, those struggles are recognized and interpreted. In my next chapter, I will discuss what methods of data collection I used in my study and the specifics of my study.
Critical Race Theory (CRT) began in the field of law and has been used as a theoretical framework in educational research for over 15 years (Savas, 2014). Gloria-Ladson-Bilings and William F.Tate IV’s wrote an article, “Toward a Critical Race Theory of Education”, in 1995 and began the use of Critical Race Theory as a lens for future studies in education. The first tenet of CRT looks at race and racism through historical contexts. To explore this tenet, I will take a brief glance back to the beginning of our country and the beginning of white as a superior race.
What is the main argument of the article the Role of Critical Race Theory in Higher Education ?
The critical case study to the novel establishes a definition of a type of critical response, and then gives as close an example that fits that mode of criticism—BORING! First, the book has these forms of criticism laid out contiguously, as if they occurred only spatially and not temporally. This flattened and skewed representation of critical approaches, taking an argument out of its context (an academic debate) and uses it as if it were a pedagogical tool. Just as criticism in many ways takes the life out of the text, by dissecting it and making it a part of an argument, the “model critical approach” takes the life out of criticism.
Critical Race Theory in education recognizes that Race and racism are prevalent and significant in the American school system. This particular theory has been used to understand the oppressive aspects of society based on race, culture and language in order to generate transformation in schools as well as in society (Sólorzano & Yosso, 2001).
Critical race theory (CRT) is a framework that may be useful for examining how racial climate impacts the undergraduate experiences of African-American students on college campuses (Murphy, Gaughan, Hume, & Moore, 2010). CRT draws from a broad base of literature in sociology, history, ethnic studies, women’s study, and law (Murphy, Gaughan, Hume, & Moore, 2010). CRT consists of five elements: 1) the centrality of race and racism, and their intersectionality with other forms of subordination, 2) the challenge to dominant ideology, 3) the commitment to social justice, 4) the centrality of experiential knowledge, and 5) the transdisciplinary perspective (Murphy, Gaughan, Hume, & Moore, 2010). Applying CRT to education is different than other CRT applications as it challenges traditional paradigms, methods, texts, and separate discourse of race, gender, and class by showing how social constructs intersect to impact on communities of color (Murphy, Gaughan, Hume, & Moore,
Students who live below the poverty line have less motivation to succeed, and their parents are less inclined to participate in their child’s education, often because the parents cannot provide support for their children. Although it’s logical that school districts from poorer communities cannot collect as much funding as the richer communities, people stuck in these low-income communities often pay higher taxes, and still their school districts cannot accumulate as much money.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Public School Choice is an easy program to understand and it contains many advantages but also many disadvantages. Public School Choice is when parents can elect to send their children out of a school that has not made adequate yearly progress for two consecutive years into a school that has made progress. (McClure, 2002) If there are no available schools within the original school district, then a family can choose to send their children to another district. This only happens when the other schools in the original district are all labeled as ‘underachieving schools’ and have not made the adequate yearly progress. (McClure, 2002)
Various theorists under the umbrella of critical social theory believe that all subordinate groups are oppressed on personal, cultural and institutional levels by visible and invisible structures as well as by conscious and unconscious means. (Mullaly, 2010 ).
The first chapter is about the origins and the purpose of CRT, the second chapter is an analysis of the methodological tools of CRT, the third chapter highlights the key themes of CRT, the fourth chapter provides us with some useful information about the racial inequalities in education and the last chapter is about the influence of CRT in education and the way that it helps us to understand some racial inequalities that take place in the field of education. 1. What is the difference between a. and a The Origins and Purpose of Critical Race Theory. Critical Race Theory (CRT) comes from the scholarship of Critical Legal Studies (CLS) which has observed the continuing domination and power of some groups, such as males and whites, over some other groups and it has argued that political and social change was necessary (Taylor, 2009). Derrick A.... ...
Learning by critical reflection creates new understandings by making conscious the social, political, professional, economic, and ethical assumptions constraining or supporting one’s action in a specific context (Ecclestone 1996; Mackintosh 1998). Critical reflection’s appeal as an adult learning strategy lies in the claim of intellectual growth and improvement in one’s ability to see the need for and effect personal and system change. Reflection can be a learning tool for directing and informing practice, choosing among alternatives in a practice setting, or transforming and reconstructing the social environment (Williamson 1997). Can critical reflection be taught in a classroom? Does the new knowledge created foster change? This Myths and Realities investigates the extent to which critical reflection can be taught to adult learners.
Similar to interpretivist researchers, critical researchers recognize that research is not value free, but they go further in that the goal of the research is to actively challenge interpretations and values in order to bring about change (Vine, 2009). The paradigm of critical research originated from the critical theory; credits of this model are George Hegel (eighteenth century) and Karl Marx (nineteenth century). This research theory seeks to contradict the preceding theories and models regarding society. Transformative researchers felt that the interpretivist/constructivist approach to research did not adequately address issues of social justice and marginalized people (Creswell, 2003, p.9). Researchers, who use this approach, analyze previous theoretical claims, questioning preceding findings and conclusions.
Many people in today’s society believe it’s wise to send their children to private schools. In making the decision on whether to put children in public or private schools, they look to four main factors: curriculum, class size, the graduation rate, and cost. When people have to pay for something, their first thought is, “Will I be getting what I’m paying for?” With a private school education, the amount you have to pay is usually well worth it. Public schools offer diversity. Here students can find people who are just like them and can associate better. Wherever you live, you have to send your child to the closest school. There’s no choice on what public school you can send your child to, whereas for private schools you can pick to send your child there. It’s not an easy choice for parents to decide, but many factors point toward a guarantee that a good education would be achieved, which is most important.
The theoretical perspective used in this paper is one of critical race theory, however, it could be viewed through the lens of Critical theory when discussing childhood poverty as a
I think that critical thinking is important in ever aspect of education, but I believe it’s utilized more in the field of Social Studies, where the student has to make a decision based upon primary and secondary sources to draw from. An example would be after watching a video over history the students would form an opinion. Though the use of critical thinking questions such as how does the information connect with the knowledge that the class has already learned about the subject, how might the new inform...
...individual is critiquing society he should also coordinate his cognitive process with society. Critiquing society involves being able to criticize society enough to want social change. Examining the subjugation in a society allows for society to not reproduce itself. Traditional theory does not address its connection with society therefore does not critique society and continues a cycle of reproducing society as it is. Critique in Critical theory involves observing the disruption and conflict that causes for struggle within a society.