Autonomy and Schooling

Eamonn Callan draws on contemporary work in ethics and social philosophy to outline a theory of the nature and value of freedom and autonomy which supports a range of child-centred policies. He argues for a curriculum which is tailored to the interests of the individual child, even where this would involve early specialization. Compulsory schooling is defended on paternalistic grounds, though it is noted that the scope of justified compulsion may be narrower than we ordinarily assume. Finally, Callan suggests that at the higher levels of schooling there is a strong case for extensive student participation in the government of schools.