Alex Standish – författare

‘For geographers across the globe this book provides the arguments for a return to the teaching of geography and why they should reject the politicisation of the subject by education policy makers and politicians. Standish’s careful critique shows the necessity of a depoliticised geography curriculum the irony of which would be that it would ensure that every child could point to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan on a map.’ Prof. Dennis Hayes – Oxford Brookes University, UK'A prescient and critical analysis of the changing face of geographyteaching. This book deserves to be widely read and debated. Alex Standish's book puts current trends in geography teaching in historical and critical context. It comprises a forthright and timely defence of geographical education for its own sake.'Dr Jim Butcher, FRSA, Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury Christ Church University.Since the early 1990s, educational policy makers and some subject leaders have been seeking to fundamentally change the teaching of geography in UK and US schools, from a subject which encourages students to explore spatial concepts, ideas and skills, to a more ethics based subject concerned with the promotion of environmentalism, cultural diversity and social justice. In this book the new approach is critically examined, within a historical and ideological context, addressing a number of fundamental questions: Should geography be used as a tool for the delivery of citizenship ideals? How does this affect the intellectual and moral value of geographical education for young people? If the state and teachers are taking more responsibility for the values, attitudes and emotional responses of students, how will they learn to develop these qualities for themselves? If global perspectives shift the focus of education from learning about the outside world to learning about the self, what is its vision of social progress and conception of social change?This book advocates a return to liberal models of education, arguing that the new approach to geography currently being promoted for schools fundamentally undermines the educational value of the subject, and the freedom of young people to shape the world in which they live.A vital resource for teachers and student teachers alike, Global Perspectives in the Geography Curriculum<$> makes a significant contribution to the growing debate about the future direction of the discipline itself.

‘For geographers across the globe this book provides the arguments for a return to the teaching of geography and why they should reject the politicisation of the subject by education policy makers and politicians. Standish’s careful critique shows the necessity of a depoliticised geography curriculum the irony of which would be that it would ensure that every child could point to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan on a map.’ Prof. Dennis Hayes – Oxford Brookes University, UK'A prescient and critical analysis of the changing face of geographyteaching. This book deserves to be widely read and debated. Alex Standish's book puts current trends in geography teaching in historical and critical context. It comprises a forthright and timely defence of geographical education for its own sake.'Dr Jim Butcher, FRSA, Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury Christ Church University.Since the early 1990s, educational policy makers and some subject leaders have been seeking to fundamentally change the teaching of geography in UK and US schools, from a subject which encourages students to explore spatial concepts, ideas and skills, to a more ethics based subject concerned with the promotion of environmentalism, cultural diversity and social justice. In this book the new approach is critically examined, within a historical and ideological context, addressing a number of fundamental questions: Should geography be used as a tool for the delivery of citizenship ideals? How does this affect the intellectual and moral value of geographical education for young people? If the state and teachers are taking more responsibility for the values, attitudes and emotional responses of students, how will they learn to develop these qualities for themselves? If global perspectives shift the focus of education from learning about the outside world to learning about the self, what is its vision of social progress and conception of social change?This book advocates a return to liberal models of education, arguing that the new approach to geography currently being promoted for schools fundamentally undermines the educational value of the subject, and the freedom of young people to shape the world in which they live.A vital resource for teachers and student teachers alike, Global Perspectives in the Geography Curriculum<$> makes a significant contribution to the growing debate about the future direction of the discipline itself.

‘For geographers across the globe this book provides the arguments for a return to the teaching of geography and why they should reject the politicisation of the subject by education policy makers and politicians. Standish’s careful critique shows the necessity of a depoliticised geography curriculum the irony of which would be that it would ensure that every child could point to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan on a map.’

Prof. Dennis Hayes – Oxford Brookes University, UK

''A prescient and critical analysis of the changing face of geographyteaching. This book deserves to be widely read and debated. Alex Standish''s book puts current trends in geography teaching in historical and critical context. It comprises a forthright and timely defence of geographical education for its own sake.''

Dr Jim Butcher, FRSA, Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury Christ Church University.

Since the early 1990s, educational policy makers and some subject leaders have been seeking to fundamentally change the teaching of geography in UK and US schools, from a subject which encourages students to explore spatial concepts, ideas and skills, to a more ethics based subject concerned with the promotion of environmentalism, cultural diversity and social justice. In this book the new approach is critically examined, within a historical and ideological context, addressing a number of fundamental questions:

Should geography be used as a tool for the delivery of citizenship ideals? How does this affect the intellectual and moral value of geographical education for young people?

If the state and teachers are taking more responsibility for the values, attitudes and emotional responses of students, how will they learn to develop these qualities for themselves?

If global perspectives shift the focus of education from learning about the outside world to learning about the self, what is its vision of social progress and conception of social change?

This book advocates a return to liberal models of education, arguing that the new approach to geography currently being promoted for schools fundamentally undermines the educational value of the subject, and the freedom of young people to shape the world in which they live.

A vital resource for teachers and student teachers alike, Global Perspectives in the Geography Curriculum<$> makes a significant contribution to the growing debate about the future direction of the discipline itself.

‘For geographers across the globe this book provides the arguments for a return to the teaching of geography and why they should reject the politicisation of the subject by education policy makers and politicians. Standish’s careful critique shows the necessity of a depoliticised geography curriculum the irony of which would be that it would ensure that every child could point to Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan on a map.’

Prof. Dennis Hayes – Oxford Brookes University, UK

''A prescient and critical analysis of the changing face of geographyteaching. This book deserves to be widely read and debated. Alex Standish''s book puts current trends in geography teaching in historical and critical context. It comprises a forthright and timely defence of geographical education for its own sake.''

Dr Jim Butcher, FRSA, Department of Sport Science, Tourism and Leisure, Canterbury Christ Church University.

Since the early 1990s, educational policy makers and some subject leaders have been seeking to fundamentally change the teaching of geography in UK and US schools, from a subject which encourages students to explore spatial concepts, ideas and skills, to a more ethics based subject concerned with the promotion of environmentalism, cultural diversity and social justice. In this book the new approach is critically examined, within a historical and ideological context, addressing a number of fundamental questions:

Should geography be used as a tool for the delivery of citizenship ideals? How does this affect the intellectual and moral value of geographical education for young people?

If the state and teachers are taking more responsibility for the values, attitudes and emotional responses of students, how will they learn to develop these qualities for themselves?

If global perspectives shift the focus of education from learning about the outside world to learning about the self, what is its vision of social progress and conception of social change?

This book advocates a return to liberal models of education, arguing that the new approach to geography currently being promoted for schools fundamentally undermines the educational value of the subject, and the freedom of young people to shape the world in which they live.

A vital resource for teachers and student teachers alike, Global Perspectives in the Geography Curriculum<$> makes a significant contribution to the growing debate about the future direction of the discipline itself.

This book invites geography subject leaders to reveal the intricacies of how they construct, implement and evaluate their secondary curricula. Through these reflections, they outline their vision of the geography students they want to nurture, core concepts, how units of study are sequenced for progression, how skills and fieldwork are integrated, opportunities to explore geographical issues and values, and links to academic geography.Each chapter explains how these teachers decide which places, case studies and issues to study, how they attempt to avoid stereotypes and single story narratives, and how they develop pupils’ ability to examine issues from different perspectives. They also discuss what is meant by a knowledge-turn in curriculum, why this was called for, how social realist epistemology can help schools as they re-contextualise knowledge and principles of curriculum design. This book grows out of the UCL Fawcett Fellowship scheme for geography teachers. In 2022-23, a group of seven experienced geography teachers worked together to research curriculum theory and geography education. While each teacher was in a different situation with respect to curriculum development in their school, they learnt collaboratively and developed ways to improve curriculum structure, depth, coherence and progression in their department.

This book invites geography subject leaders to reveal the intricacies of how they construct, implement and evaluate their secondary curricula. Through these reflections, they outline their vision of the geography students they want to nurture, core concepts, how units of study are sequenced for progression, how skills and fieldwork are integrated, opportunities to explore geographical issues and values, and links to academic geography.Each chapter explains how these teachers decide which places, case studies and issues to study, how they attempt to avoid stereotypes and single story narratives, and how they develop pupils’ ability to examine issues from different perspectives. They also discuss what is meant by a knowledge-turn in curriculum, why this was called for, how social realist epistemology can help schools as they re-contextualise knowledge and principles of curriculum design. This book grows out of the UCL Fawcett Fellowship scheme for geography teachers. In 2022-23, a group of seven experienced geography teachers worked together to research curriculum theory and geography education. While each teacher was in a different situation with respect to curriculum development in their school, they learnt collaboratively and developed ways to improve curriculum structure, depth, coherence and progression in their department.

Through the language of global learning, education is being reformed by corporations, political activists, and policy makers. Academic subject-based knowledge has been cast as elitist and outdated. Instead, the curriculum has been colonized in the name of skills for the global market, skills and attitudes for intercultural communities and preparing children for their roles as global citizens. Alex Standish argues that we can only educate children if we are clear about the boundaries that provide education with its moral worth. These include the boundaries between: education and political activity, public and private realms, education and training, theoretical and everyday knowledge, and subject disciplines. The False Promise of Global Learning demonstrates forcefully that the nature and purpose of education has become confused with social, economic, political, and therapeutic aims, and that control over the curriculum has been taken away from teachers and communities. This is a hard-hitting and persuasive work that will resonate with all educators who have a stake in how - and why - we educate our children.

This book is available as open access through the Bloomsbury Open Access programme and is available on www.bloomsburycollections.com.Through the language of global learning, education is being reformed by corporations, political activists, and policy makers. Academic subject-based knowledge has been cast as elitist and outdated for a rapidly-changing world. The curriculum has been colonized in the name of teaching skills and attitudes for the global market and global citizenship. Can young people effectively contribute to society without an education in academic knowledge? Alex Standish argues that we can only educate children about the world if we are clear about the boundaries that provide education with its moral worth. These include the boundaries between: education and political activity, public and private realms, education and training, theoretical and everyday knowledge, communities, and subject disciplines. The False Promise of Global Learning demonstrates that the nature and purpose of education has become confused with social, economic, political, and therapeutic aims, and that control over the curriculum has been taken away from teachers and communities. This is a hard-hitting work that will resonate with all who have a stake in how - and why - we educate our children.