VOLUME 5, NUMBER 1, WINTER 2010
Art, Social Imagination and Democratic Education
A SPECIAL ISSUE DEDICATED TO MAXINE GREENE
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AWAKENINGS: THE LIFE OF MAXINE GREENE."
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CONTROVERSY ADDRESSED IN THIS ISSUE
in launching this Foundation, is to generate inquiry, imagination, and
the creation of art works by diverse people. It has to do so with a
sense of the deficiencies in our world and a desire to repair, wherever
possible. Justice, equality, freedom - these are as important to us as
the arts, and we believe they can infuse each other, perhaps making some
difference at a troubled time."
An understanding of the role of public schools in
sustaining the life of a democracy requires more than the occasional
class in civic education. It requires the development of social
imagination. Maxine Greene reminds us of the important role that the
arts - visual art, music, performance art and literature - can play in
such an education. We invite
authors to explore the many dimensions of a vision for such an education within schools and colleges, or alternatively, outside
these institutions. We also invite authors to contribute to a special
section on Maxine Greene's lifetime work and writings on art, social
imagination and education.
SECTION 1: ARTICLES IN RESPONSE TO THE CONTROVERSY
Can Literature Really Make a Difference? Toward a Chastened View of the
Role of Fiction in Democratic Education
Educating Politicians as Playwrights:
Toward a Sustainable World in Creative Conflict
Opening Minds: Aesthetic Engagement in the Language Arts
Editor: The article below appeared in our Volume 3 Number 1 Winter 2008
issue on the theme, “Schooling as if Democracy Matters.”
It has a particular relevance to the theme of this issue also.
A Leap of Faith: Aesthetic Education in the Mathematics Education
Coming into Presence: The Unfolding of a Moment
Tilting the Machine: a critique of one teacher’s attempts at using art
forms to create postformal, democratic learning environments
Of Rocks and Hard Places: The Challenge of Maxine Greene’s
Mystification in Teacher Education
Refusing the Gift? - Curriculum, Pedagogy and Early School Leaving in
SECTION 2: NARRATIVES OF CHILDREN’S LIVES
Lunch at Petra: Greene, Gargoyles and the Sixth Grade Field Trip
Children’s Imaginative Communities -
Microcosms of Democracy
Universal Power to Create (A Slide Show)
SECTION 3: CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION WITH MAXINE GREENE: REFLECTIONS ENGENDERED BY HER LIFE AND WORK
Maxine Greene: Influences on the Life and Work of a Dynamic Educator
Working with Youth: In
Search of the Natality of the Teacher - for
"One aneither": A Joycean
Critique of Educational Research
A Response to a New Book about Maxine Greene’s Philosophy
Notes on a Blue Guitar
SECTION 4: PAPERS FROM THE 2007 AESA CONFERENCE IN CELEBRATION OF MAXINE GREENE’S 90th BIRTHDAY
Introduction: Papers from the American Educational Studies Association
2007 Conference Special Session on Maxine Greene
In October 2007, Susan Fransoza, Wendy Kohli, and Moredachai Gordon organized a special session at the annual meeting of the American Educational Studies Association in Cleveland entitled: Imaging the Future of Educational Studies: A Commemoration of the Work and 90th Birthday of Maxine Greene. I was honored to be invited to join my colleagues, Michelle Fine, Mary Bushnell Greiner, and James Palermo on this panel where we shared our unique perspectives on Maxine Greene’s work, as well as our shared admiration and love for her as our friend and teacher. The four of us, and the standing room only gathering at the session, were also treated to the special joy of Maxine’s company and response to our presentations. As always, she both embraced us as fellow travelers, while honoring us with careful, yet critical comments. And through this, we all learned once more what it means to be present in the dialectic of freedom and community.
I am grateful to Lorraine Kasprisin for inviting me to assemble the presentations from that special session for inclusion in the special issue of the Journal of Educational Controversy dedicated to Maxine Greene. Thanks to my fellow panel members for their participation, to Wendy, Susan, and Moredachai for the good work of getting the whole project started, to Fairfield University for its support, and, of course, to Maxine for inspiring and educating us all.
Michelle Fine, A Greene Imaginary
James M. Giarelli, To Maxine Greene on Her 90th Birthday
Mary Bushnell Greiner, Shaking them up: Aesthetics in Social Foundations of Education
ANNOUNCING A NEW BOOK FROM TEACHERS COLLEGE PRESS THIS FALL
See the REJOINDERS SECTION to read reactions to the articles in this issue.
See our BLOG to enter into a conversation with our authors and other readers.
See the TALKING WITH THE AUTHORS VIDEO SERIES for videotaped interviews with some of the authors.
LINK TO THE
MAXINE GREENE FOUNDATION: