Bringing Knowledge Back In: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education

by Michael F.D. Young

'This book tackles some of the most important educational questions of the day... It is rare to find a book on education which is theoretically sophisticated and practically this book is.' From the Foreword by Hugh Lauder What is it in the twenty-first century that we want young people, and adults returning to study, to know? What is it about the kind of knowledge that people can acquire at school, college or university that distinguishes it from the knowledge that people acquire in their everyday lives everyday lives, at work, and in their families? Bringing Knowledge Back In draws on recent developments in the sociology of knowledge to propose answers to these key, but often overlooked, educational questions. Michael Young traces the changes in his own thinking about the question of knowledge in education since his earlier books Knowledge and Control and The Curriculum of the Future . He argues for the continuing relevance of the writings of Durkheim and Vygotsky and the unique importance of Basil Bernstein’s often under-appreciated work. He illustrates the importance of questions about knowledge by investigating the dilemmas faced by researchers and policy makers in a range of fields. He also considers the broader issue of the role of sociologists in relation to educational policy in the context of increasingly interventionist governments. In so doing, the This compelling and provocative book will be essential reading for anyone involved in research and debates about the curriculum as well as those with a specific interest in the sociology of education.

Genres: Education

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Kitty Red-Eye]

(Author's article on Spiked http://www.spiked-online.com/newsite/... )

[J. Boo]

Young started his career as a stereotypical educational theorist of the 1960s/70s, but had a child, and as a result seems to have moved to the "we should be teaching students things instead just having them talk about their feelings" side. Interview with author here. https://www.theguardian.com/education...