VOCATIONAL-EDUCATION AS GENERAL-EDUCATION

Authors
Citation
T. Lewis, VOCATIONAL-EDUCATION AS GENERAL-EDUCATION, Curriculum inquiry, 28(3), 1998, pp. 283-309
Citations number
88
Categorie Soggetti
Education & Educational Research
Journal title
ISSN journal
03626784
Volume
28
Issue
3
Year of publication
1998
Pages
283 - 309
Database
ISI
SICI code
0362-6784(1998)28:3<283:VAG>2.0.ZU;2-V
Abstract
It is argued that vocational education belongs in the common core of s chool knowledge. Distinction is made between vocational education for jobs and vocational education about work. It is the latter aspect of t he subject that allows the general education claim to be made. The for mer aspect, it is argued, belongs beyond the secondary school. The res ilience of the liberal/vocational divide is reflected upon. So is the ''new vocationalism,'' which seeks to narrow the divide. The ideas of those who, consistent with Deweyan ideals, have imagined a unitary cur riculum that includes vocational knowledge are examined. A three-part rationale for vocational education as general education is then discus sed, namely, meaning of work, practical knowledge as knowledge, and si tuated cognition.