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| Reflection
Paper on Neo-Liberalism, the Deformation of Education
and Resistance
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Dave Hill, the author of the article “Neo-Liberalism,
the Deformation of Education and Resistance”, focuses
on the problem of the modern development of education in the
context of the dominance of the capitalist ideology. In fact,
the author underlines that nowadays the capitalist ideology
is not simply dominating but it spreads its influence on all
spheres of life and practically in all countries throughout
the world. At the same time, this ideology is often disguised
as the struggle for democratic and humanistic values, while
in actuality, this ideology serves rather to the interests
of upper classes and large corporations than to the interests
of average representatives of the working class. The author
associates this ideology and degradation of really democratic
and egalitarian ideas with the Neo-Liberalism.
As a result, the author states that education, as well as
other public services, is affected dramatically by business
values and interests that leads to the gradual elimination
of equality in education. Moreover, Dave Hill underlines that
the modern education is practically deprived of really egalitarian
principles and the declared equality does not match the real
equality of opportunities for all children to receive equally
good education. To a significant extent, this is the result
of the negative impact of globalization and dominance of neo-liberal
ideas which led to the loss of equity, economic, social justice,
democracy and democratic accountability, and critical thought
within a culture of performativity. Instead, the national
and global inequalities keep growing.
In fact, the author reveals a direct link between economic
globalization with the growing impact of Neo-Liberalism, especially
in the field of education. According to the author, Neo-Liberalism
and ‘marketisation’ of education have changed
basic aspects of education dramatically, including goals,
methods, standards of excellence and freedom in education.
At the same time, the dominance of Neo-Liberalism lead to
the oppression of all alternative ideologies and views that
could critically evaluate the current educational policies
and offer more efficient, just and egalitarian ways of the
further development opening new opportunities in education
for possibly larger number of people.
No wonder that Dave Hill concludes his article by the appeal
to his readers to be aware of the growing impact of Neo-Liberalism
and indicates at the necessity of resistance and development
of alternatives that should target not at business values
but on the promotion of the principles of equality not only
in education but in all spheres of life.
Unquestionably, the problem raised by the author is extremely
important to any educator worldwide since the problem of Neo-Liberalism
and ‘marketisation’ of education is really global.
At the same time, it is really important that educators remained
critical and objective since they are responsible for the
future of their students and its impermissible that unjust
ideology replaced the fundamental humanistic principles of
a really education targeting at equal and humanistic education
for all students, implying elimination all social, economic,
political, racial or any other barriers that prevent children
from receiving equally good education. This is why it is possible
to conclude that the article evokes educators awareness of
the possible threats and dangers of the modern ideology and
education policies and, what is more, it is really important
that the article makes educators conscious of the necessity
of resistance for the sake of basic educational principles
and future generations.
Bibliography:
1. Hill, Dave. “Global Neo-Liberalism, the Deformation
of Education and Resistance”, Journal for Critical Education
Policy Studies, Vol.1, No.1, March 2003.
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