Critical pedagogy and predatory culture : oppositional politics in a postmodern era [Book review]

Abstract

This book demystifies the predatory elements of an education process that claims to be neutral. It also disturbs the educator who considers his/her role within the education process as a transmitter of knowledge and moulder of values and attitudes. This is a book that will disappoint the how-to freak. On the other hand, it should excite those educators who are refusing to be deskilled by education systems that are becoming increasingly keen on pushing competency-based curricula. By writing simultaneously about the hegemonic and liberatory potential of curricula, McLaren constantly challenges the reader to position him/herself politically. Readers are asked to choose from, on one hand, participation in an educational process that is oblivious to the fact that curricula select, privilege, support, and reproduce hegemonic forms of knowledge, visions and experiences and, on the other hand, an educational experience that centres around the notion of curriculum as a site of contestation. The latter scenario provides educators and students with the possibility of questioning, problematising, countering and transforming predatory culture.