‘Changing the context’: tackling discrimination at school and in society

Howarth, Caroline and Andreouli, Eleni (2015) ‘Changing the context’: tackling discrimination at school and in society. International Journal of Educational Development, 41. pp. 184-191. ISSN 0738-0593

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Abstract

In this paper we propose a social psychological framework for studying the role of schools in promoting positive intercultural relations. We draw on data from schools in England where addressing issues of cultural diversity is a key aim of educational practice. We focus specifically on the role of social context in educational activities that tackle discrimination. We consider the socio-political context, local community context, and immediate school context from a social representations theory perspective. Using data from interviews with staff and focus groups with students in schools from three very different localities, we show that the socio-political context may limit schools’ ability to promote positive intercultural relations but also that it is possible for schools to promote broader change from the bottom-up, acting as agents of change at a societal level, i.e. in terms of changing the local and broader societal contexts in which they are located.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/07380...
Additional Information:	©2014 Elsevier
Divisions:	Psychological and Behavioural Science
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology L Education > LB Theory and practice of education
Date Deposited:	27 Apr 2015 15:59
Last Modified:	14 Sep 2024 06:46
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/61759

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