Co-operative Education and Schools: An old idea for new times? paper
A recent paper looks at the past, present and future of co-operative education, specifically the potential and historical context of co-operative schools, from the Rochdale Pioneers to the present. With an emphasis on what co-operative education provision means in practice, and case studies from co-operative schools, authors Professor Keri Facer (Education and Social Research Institute, Manchester Metropolitan University), Dr Linda Shaw and Julie Thorpe (the Co-operative College) ask:
“What is the nature of the co-operative education tradition that is being drawn on in English schools today?
How is co-operative education being recontextualised in UK schools”
The paper, which was presented at the British Educational Research Association conference in London in September, starts with an explanation that: “Co-operative education seems to be an idea whose time has come. Co-operative governance structures are heralded as offering a new response to the dilemmas of accountability and ownership in public services and co-operative curriculum and pedagogy is being seen by many as an answer to contemporary economic, technological and environmental concerns.”
It continues: “There is a search for alternative educational accounts of how to build ethical economic wellbeing for communities and individuals.”
The paper incorporates accounts of the experiences of co-operative Trust schools and co-operative Business and Enterprise colleges, noting that there is no set mould for co-operative schools, as well as discussions with staff at the Co-operative College, which developed the co-operative schools model. It contextualises co-operative schools in England within a wider, global context of co-operative education and looks at what the co-operative movement is doing to address the recent invisibility of co-operatives in mainstream education, from schemes such as Young Co-operatives to co-operative curriculum and pedagogy.
It also considers the opportunities for the extension of co-operative education; for example, into children’s services, music services and early years and youth provision.
The paper ends by noting the potential challenges ahead, and stating that the “flexibility and creativity” of the co-operative movement has allowed it to “adapt to changing conditions and contexts”.
Read the full paper:
Co-operative Education and Schools: An old idea for new times?
Filed Under: Co-operative Learning • Co-operatives Globally • Our Heritage • Researching Co-operatives • Schools and Young People
Co-operative Learning