Authority and the Teacher - Hardcover

This book is a spirited defense of the traditional model of K-12 education. Using philosophical arguments from Karl Polanyi, Michael Oakeshott, and Ludwig Wittgenstein, Kitchen (Univ. of Belfast, UK) strongly defends the position that the classroom teacher must be seen as an `authority' by virtue of his or her education and should be totally in charge of the learning experience. The author convincingly argues against the current trend of child-centered education. His book is cogently written, shows sound research, and helps fill a current void in education literature. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above. -- W. C. Hine, Eastern Illinois University * CHOICE * Making the argument for knowledge-based teaching through philosophy allows Kitchen to remind us that, whatever the evidence might suggest, it is the authority of the teacher that is of crucial importance to the success of education. Authority and the Teacher is a vital contribution to the key education debate of our time. -- Joanna Williams * Spiked Magazine * This is an important discussion of an issue that is studiously evaded by the education establishment. Kitchen's excellent study of what is the central issue facing schooling is a must read for all who take education of our children seriously. * Frank Furedi, Emeritus Professor of Sociology, University of Kent, UK, and author of Authority: A Sociological History (2013) * Kitchen concludes that: "Teaching and learning need authority; knowledge development depends on authority. And, as a consequence, education rests on authority. Therefore the demise of authority results in the demise of education". These are strong words, convincing to those with similar views. To others they are thought provoking at least. * InTuition * The world of education is dominated by child centred, progressive ideologies. Very few people dare to challenge the consensus. I can count on the fingers of one hand books in recent years which seek to articulate an alternative (and, in my view, much needed) rationale for education. I can think of none that roots the argument in the work of these three philosophers. Oakeshott's views on education are well known; those of Polanyi and Wittgenstein less so. Reading this book, I was intrigued by the way the author draws upon key ideas from each to deliver a coherent argument. * Sir Chris Woodhead * From Socrates until the child-centred theorists of the 20th century the "teacher" armed with the "authority" of his learning was the accepted medium for the transmission of the knowledge and judgement of the past, and the basis for expanding that of the future. Kitchen, with his analysis of the writings of Polanyi, Oakeshott, and Wittgenstein, tells us why. * Robert McCartney QC, Chairman of the National Grammar Schools Association, UK *

Authority and the Teacher seeks to overturn the notion that authority is a restrictive force within education, serving only to stifle creativity and drown out the voice of the student. William H. Kitchen argues that any education must have, as one of its cornerstones, a component which encourages the fullest development of knowledge, which serves as the great educational emancipator. In this version of knowledge-driven education, the teacher's authority should be absolute, so as to ensure that the teacher has the scope to liberate their pupils. The pupil, in the avoidance of ignorance, can thus embrace what is rightfully theirs; the inheritance of intellectual riches passed down through time.

By invoking the work of three major philosophers - Polanyi, Oakeshott and Wittgenstein - as well as contributions from other key thinkers on authority, this book underpins previous claims for the need for authority in education with the philosophical clout necessary to ensure these arguments permeate modern mainstream educational thinking.