Civic Education, Pluralism and the Indispensable Role of the State.
Christopher Winch
Department of Education and Professional Studies
King’s College, London
It is argued that all education worthy of the name embodies a significant civic element. Different conceptions of civic education are considered and it is argued that civic education requires some form of state regulation. Education has a strong public good element and it is argued that promotion of the public goods provided by education is an indispensable role of the state. Among these goods are human relationships. Human well-being should be a fundamental concern of the state and can be secured by various means among which the reduction of relative inequalities of income and wealth are central. Such a reform of wealth distribution requires a sense of fraternity amongst citizens if it is to be lasting and education has a central role to play in promoting fraternity. A substantial degree of state control as opposed to mere state regulation of education is a necessary means of promoting this. Some of the difficulties of providing civic education to promote fraternity in a pluralist democratic society are then discussed.
Christopher Winch
Department of Education and Professional Studies
King’s College, London
It is argued that all education worthy of the name embodies a significant civic element. Different conceptions of civic education are considered and it is argued that civic education requires some form of state regulation. Education has a strong public good element and it is argued that promotion of the public goods provided by education is an indispensable role of the state. Among these goods are human relationships. Human well-being should be a fundamental concern of the state and can be secured by various means among which the reduction of relative inequalities of income and wealth are central. Such a reform of wealth distribution requires a sense of fraternity amongst citizens if it is to be lasting and education has a central role to play in promoting fraternity. A substantial degree of state control as opposed to mere state regulation of education is a necessary means of promoting this. Some of the difficulties of providing civic education to promote fraternity in a pluralist democratic society are then discussed.
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