Transformative Change and Real Utopias in Early Childhood Education

A story of democracy, experimentation and potentiality

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Education & Teaching, Preschool & Kindergarten, Educational Theory, Educational Reform
Cover of the book Transformative Change and Real Utopias in Early Childhood Education by Peter Moss, Taylor and Francis
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Peter Moss ISBN: 9781317700869
Publisher: Taylor and Francis Publication: April 24, 2014
Imprint: Routledge Language: English
Author: Peter Moss
ISBN: 9781317700869
Publisher: Taylor and Francis
Publication: April 24, 2014
Imprint: Routledge
Language: English

Early childhood education and care is a major policy issue for national governments and international organisations. This book contests two stories, both infused by neoliberal thinking, that dominate early childhood policy making today - ‘the story of quality and high returns’ and ‘the story of markets’,  stories that promise high returns on investment if only the right technologies are applied to children and the perfection of a system based on competition and individual choice. 

But there are alternative stories and this book tells one: a ‘story of democracy, experimentation and potentiality’ in which early childhood centres are public spaces and public resources, places where democracy and experimentation are fundamental values, community workshops for realising the potentiality of citizens. This story calls for transformative change but offers a real utopia, both viable and achievable. The book discusses some of the conditions needed for the story’s enactment and shows what it means in practice in a chapter about project work contributed by a Swedish preschool teacher.  

Critical but hopeful, this book is an important contribution to resisting the dictatorship of no alternative and renewing a democratic politics of early childhood education. It is essential reading for students and teachers, researchers and other academics, and for all other concerned citizens.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Early childhood education and care is a major policy issue for national governments and international organisations. This book contests two stories, both infused by neoliberal thinking, that dominate early childhood policy making today - ‘the story of quality and high returns’ and ‘the story of markets’,  stories that promise high returns on investment if only the right technologies are applied to children and the perfection of a system based on competition and individual choice. 

But there are alternative stories and this book tells one: a ‘story of democracy, experimentation and potentiality’ in which early childhood centres are public spaces and public resources, places where democracy and experimentation are fundamental values, community workshops for realising the potentiality of citizens. This story calls for transformative change but offers a real utopia, both viable and achievable. The book discusses some of the conditions needed for the story’s enactment and shows what it means in practice in a chapter about project work contributed by a Swedish preschool teacher.  

Critical but hopeful, this book is an important contribution to resisting the dictatorship of no alternative and renewing a democratic politics of early childhood education. It is essential reading for students and teachers, researchers and other academics, and for all other concerned citizens.

More books from Taylor and Francis

Cover of the book Law and Economics by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Culture, Health and Sexuality by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Helping Parents of Diagnosed, Distressed, and Different Children by Peter Moss
Cover of the book The Facilitator's Toolkit by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Business in Emerging Latin America by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Perspectives On Conservation by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Radicalization by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Structural Equation Modeling With Lisrel, Prelis, and Simplis by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Computer Science in Sport by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Religion, Identity and Politics in Northern Ireland by Peter Moss
Cover of the book A Practical Guide to Transforming Primary Mathematics by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Small Arms, Crime and Conflict by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Confronting the Challenges of Urbanization in China by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Figuring Victims in International Criminal Justice by Peter Moss
Cover of the book Native American Literature by Peter Moss
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy