Dr. Ruth Heilbronn
University College London, Institute of Education
Title: Ethical Behaviour in Education - Dewey in Difficult Contemporary Times: Discussing the PREVENT Strategy
Date and Time: Thursday, June 2nd, 16:30-18:00
Where:
University of Edinburgh
Moray House School of Education,
Room: Room Paterson’s Land, LG34
A map link to Moray House:http://www.ed.ac.uk/maps?building=patersons-land
Abstract:
Since July 1st educators, including those in Higher Education, and others in public service in England (and other parts of the UK) are legally required to report students and pupils who demonstrate ‘extreme views’ to the police, under the PREVENT strategy (DfE 2014). Schools also have to promote British values, defined as ‘democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs (ibid.). The reporting requirement risks leading teachers into difficult positions, in which they feel obliged to engage in unethical behaviour in order to comply with school and government policy. What is to count as ‘extreme’ in a matter of judgment, because it is context and culturally specific. The nature of ethical decision making is such, that even if teachers are able to decide on a clear cut case of ‘extreme views’, they may be compromising their beliefs if they report someone. Participants will be invited to read a short vignette as a prompt for discussion. I will then present a reasoned account, drawing on Dewey and others.
All Welcome. Open to the Public. Free Entry. No booking necessary.
Organizer: Dr Andrea English, andrea.english@ed.ac.uk
Sponsored by The Philosophy of Education Society of Great Britain, Edinburgh Branch