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BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
BRITISH EDUCATIONAL RESEARCH ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER
While the Worldwatch report focuses on the disastrous physical consequences for the Earth of
While the Worldwatch report focuses on the disastrous physical consequences for the Earth of
rampant economic growth, Her-tz's concern is for the social consequences. She sees it as
rampant economic growth, Hertz's concern is for the social consequences. She sees it as
destroying the best political system that we have yet discovered- democracy.
destroying the best political system that we have yet discovered - democracy.
VI POLEMIC
VI POLEMIC
- - ------------....,-------
I have posed a dichotomy between the creation of wealth and the creation of conviviality and,
I have posed a dichotomy between the creation of wealth and the creation of conviviality and,
ingenuously perhaps, have assumed that finding evidence of one of these in the educational
ingenuously perhaps, have assumed that finding evidence of one of these in the educational
utterances of a senior minister of a government, means that that represents the prevalent
utterances of a senior minister of a government, means that that represents the prevalent
discourse which underpins the educational policy of that government. On such a basis I find
discourse which underpins the educational policy of that government. On such a basis I find
that eleven of the twelve countries where I have sought evidence, and the European Union,are
that eleven of the twelve countries where I have sought evidence, and the European Union, are
engaged
engaged
in
in
the
the
wealthist
weclthts+
discourse
discourse
and
and
show
show
signs
signs
of
of
pushing
pushing
at
at
least
least
some
some
part
part
of
of
their
their
education
education
systems
systems
towards
towards
competitiveness
competitiveness
in
in
what
what
is
is
termed
termed
'a
'a
knowledge-based
knowledge-based
economy'.
economy'.
Is
Is
this
this
the
the
independent
independent
action
action
of
of
individual
individualgovernments,
governments, or
or
is
is
it,
it,
in
in
Hertz's
Hertz's
terms
terms
dictated
dictated
by
by
global capital?
global capital?
In
In
a
world
world
based
based
on
on
the
the
wealthist
wealthist
discourse,
discourse,
there
there
are
are
a
a
few
few
gleeful
gleeful
winners
winners
and
and
many
mony
disgruntled
disgruntled
losers.
losers.
By
By
contrast
contrast
in
in
a
world
world
based
based
on
on
a
a
convivial
convivialdiscourse,
discourse, potentially
potentially
everyone
everyone
could couldgain gainin inconviviality. conviviality. The Thewealthist wealthist argument, argument, of ofcourse, course, is isthat that by bycreating creating wealth wealththe the
rich, rich, by bygetting getting much muchricher, richer, help helpthe the poor poortotoget get slightly slightlyricher. richer. The Theevidence evidencefor forthis, this, so so
called called trickle-down trickle-down theory, theory, on on a world-wide world-widebasis basis is isnot notstrong. strong. But, But, even evenififititwere wereuniversally universally
true, true, it it would wouldstill still be be ultimately ultimately self-destructing, self-destructing, because because of ofthe the damaging damagingeffects effects of ofwealth wealth
creation creation on onthe the environment. environment. The Thequotation quotationat at the the head headof ofthis this paper paperdeserves deserves repetition: repetition:
We
We
seem
seem
to
to
have
have
lost
lost
sight
sight
of
of ...
00' the
the
contrast
contrast
between
between
our
our
bright
bright
hopes
hopes
for
for
the
the
future
future
of
of
the
the
information economy economyand andthe the deterioration of ofEarth's Earth'secosystems ecosystems .... .... [T}he [TJheexpanding expandingglobal globaleconomy economy
that that is is driving the the Dow DowJones Jones to tonew newhighs highsis, is, as ascurrently currently structured, structured, outgrowing outgrowingthose thoseecosystems. ecosystems.
Evidence Evidenceof of this this can canbe beseen seen in inshrinking shrinkingforests, forests, eroding erodingsoils, soils, falling fallingwater watertables, tables, collapsing collapsingfisheries, fisheries,
rising temperatures, dying dyingcoral coralreefs, reefs, melting glaciers, and and disappearingplant disappearingplantand and animalspecies.
(Worldwatch {Worldwatch Institute(2000) Institute{2000J p4) p4J
The sad sad failure of of our our education systems to todate, date, throughout the the world, world, is isthat that too toofew fewpeople people
have learned sufficient about about the the mechanisms mechanismsand and resources of ofthe the natural naturalworld worldtoto comprehend
the disaster which rampant wealth creation will willmake make inevitable. The The wealthist discourse is is
ultimately the the discourse of of doom.
The convivial convivialdiscourse, discourse, by by focusing on on a quality qualityof of life life ariSing arising from harmony harmonywith with others, with with
environment and with self, allows everyone to to succeed almost irrespective of ofhow howmuch much wealth
they own. All Allwho whoare are above the poverty line linecan can experience the the joy joyof of conviviality.
Convivial Convivialeducation education would aim for a sustainable quality qualityof of life life throughout the the world. It It would wouldbe be
an education which respects the fact that countries Countries and communities have different levels levelsof of
prosperity and different cultures; and which perceives quality qualityof of life, not notinin terms of of wealth
and power, but in terms of enduring peace, social justice, harmony, sustainable economy,
protected ecosystems, satisfying work, good health, good nutrition, worthwhile culture,
democratic government, stewardship of of the Earth, respect for for nature, etc. etc.
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