Rediscovering education’s relative autonomy: Tackling the problem of educational theory
Journal
Blog of the British Educational Research Association
Type
digital resource
Date Issued
2022
Author(s)
Abstract
The blog post discusses the evolution and state of Erziehungswissenschaft/Pädagogik, the study of education as a scientific discipline in German-speaking countries. It highlights concerns regarding the discipline's shifting identity among others due to empirical educational research, which potentially threatens its autonomy. The post identifies a problem with the lack of development of distinctive educational theories within Pädagogik, with practitioners often uncritically borrowing theories from adjacent fields. The authors propose a reemphasis on the principle of relative autonomy of education to preserve its identity as a self-governing discipline. They suggest strengthening this autonomy by posing more educational questions, developing unique educational theories, and engaging in better boundary-work. They call for an active academic community to tackle the "problem of educational theory" and advocate for the autonomy of educational studies.
Language
English
Keywords
Education
Autonomy
Erziehungswissenschaft
Theory
Problem
Discipline
Pädagogik
HSG Classification
contribution to scientific community
Subject(s)
Division(s)
Contact Email Address
stefan.siegel@unisg.ch