Photography in Schools: Current Trends in Theory and Practice

This paper reviews the place of photography in formal education. It is argued that as a specific subject of study photography remains marginal within primary and secondary education, and is viewed predominantly as a leisure activity or as a vocational subject more appropriate to further education. Despite this however, it is argued that photography can make a unique contribution to general education, and that it is particularly well placed for teachers seeking to develop innovative and cross-curricular work. Two contexts for photography in education are considered in detail: GCSE and ‘A’ level photography; and the National Curriculum for Art, and GCSE art and design examinations. In conclusion I look at the potential photography offers for developing cross-curricular work in formal education.     

Transition,Action and Education: Redirecting Pragmatist Philosophy of Education

Recent developments in contemporary pragmatist thought have the potential to help reshape our understandings of pragmatism in philosophy of education. We first survey the development of pragmatism as founded in experience, moving through linguistic pragmatism, to a newer actionistic approach in conduct pragmatism. Conduct pragmatism prioritises action over both experience and discursive thought in ways that can be central to educational activity and projects. Conduct pragmatism so conceived has the potential to alter and shift how philosophers of education relate to pragmatist thought and in the second part of the paper we outline some of these potentials. We indicate the possibilities for pragmatist philosophy of education to engage with diverse bodies of thought, moving away from an insular focus on one or two philosophers, and a diversity of locations where philosophy is active and conducted.