Deconstructing Early Childhood Education: Social Justice and Revolution

By Gaile Sloan Cannella

From a critical perspective, some early childhood educators have proposed that the knowledge base used to ground the field actually serves to support the status quo, reinforces prejudices and stereotypes, and ignores the real lives of children. The purpose of this book is to deconstruct early childhood education, identifying and evaluating the themes and forms of discourse that have dominated the field, leading to the construction of specific theories and forms of practice that privilege particular groups of children and adults and oppress others. An alternative avenue for early childhood education is posited that focuses on social justice and human agency.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0820434523
• ISBN13: 9780820434520
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publi
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Beyond Early Childhood...Solid Food...Not Milk.

If you are a beginner in early childhood, this may not be a book for you. It's very philosophical and reflective about the big ideas in the field (justice, play, the evolution of childhood, etc.). It's not a practical book, but for anyone who is informed about this discipline, they will find this book a good 1st, 2nd, and 3rd read. The opening chapter, of note, gives an outstanding 2-3 page complete history of theory in early childhood education.