Research topic

The current theme states that “Hope is the heart of the normativity of pedagogy” followed by “which hope exist today? This paper aims to discuss the prevailing neoliberal governmentality of fostering desirable traits of our children in a mindset of performativity. In particular, the issue of extrinsic and intrinsic motivation, in a comparison between entrepreneurship and aesthetic learning processes.

Theory

Text interpretation (Ricoeur, 1993) begins with explanation at the semiological structure level, continues with understanding at the semantic discursive level, to land in self-understanding through application. The process oscillate between distancing and appropriation, revealing and assigning meaning. Meaning and policy is a matter of discursive negotiation and positioning in a fluid and temporal practice (Adams, 2011). He describes the interplay between policy text and discursive practice in the play of education policy formation, a question of power and governmentality in a foucauldian way.

Expected results

Around the turn of the century two pedagogical trends was developed. Some years later, the aesthetics wasn´t placed in an electable position, while the entrepreneurial was seen as an inescapable and undiscussable necessity, in the increasingly neoliberal educational system. Aesthetic learning processes is based on an intrinsic interest in learning. It aims to touch and influence the student emotionally in a meaning-making process resulting in a personally shaped experience in a school where the answers are not in advance absolute. Within the market-oriented neoliberal school individuals are seen as self-investors in their own human capital. The pedagogic answer to this educational system of governmentality, including the ideal of performativity, is entrepreneurship. Test results and grades are counted as entrepreneurial investments in a competitive school of measureable outcomes, where learning become an extrinsic means rather than an intrinsic value.

Relevance to Nordic educational research

This text is written with reference to the Swedish context, but relevant for all Nordic countries, as the neoliberal entrepreneurial system is in here, out there, and everywhere. What qualities will give hope to our children?

References

Adams, P. (2011) From ‘ritual’ to ‘mindfulness’: policy and pedagogic positioning. Discourse: Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education

Ricoeur, P. (1993) Från text till handling. Brutus Östlings