Essay Question 7 - Select one educational organization and examine how its establishment can be explained in terms of globalization, neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism.

Question 1

Introduction to Essay Question 7 - Select one educational organization and examine how its establishment can be explained in terms of globalization, neo-liberalism and neo-conservatism.

Answer 1

• The Victorian Institute of Teaching [VIT] was established as a result of the Victorian Institute of Teaching Act 2001. In 2002 VIT began with the intended aim of being able to recognise, promote and regulate the profession of teaching.

Question 2

Comment on VIT and globalisation:

Answer 2

Within the contemporary period, numerous changes in education can be interpreted as a response to globalisation. The VIT is indicative of Appaduri’s (1990) concept of ideoscapes, which he describes to be a major dimension of the globalisation process whereby there is a flow of ideas and ideological trends across the globes. The ideoscapes are identified as: Ethnoscapes, technoscapes, financescapes, mediascapes and ideoscapes. Given that the issues of global and local complicate notions of change, the emergence of two contradictory ideological stances being, neoliberalism and neo-conservatism.

Question 3

Comment on VIT and neo-liberalism/neo-conservatism

Answer 3

VIT as a whole is a Neoliberalism institution, however the fine details that need to be met are neo-conservatism. Neoliberalism is an ideological orientation underpinned by the notion of a weak state, demonstrating deregulating and privatising through the removal of state control. The state minimises its state regulatory intervention and shifts across onto the consumer. Within the state all teachers must be registered with VIT and must meet the required standards, which then demonstrates neo-conservatism. Neo-conservatism, the second ideological orientation, supports a more influential role for the state, which sees it take a more interventionist, and regulatory role. Thus terms such as back-to-basics, standards, evidence-based and excellence permeate those policies associated with a neoconservative perspective. Proposals for national testing programs, national curriculum and a return to the canons indicative of Western traditions lie at the heart of education changes related to neo-conservatism.

Question 4

Comment on VIT and Postmodernism

Answer 4

Previous to the establishment of the VIT, teacher registration was undertaken free of charge by a state government-appointed board. Teachers in post-modern times must now pay annual fees on top of their fees to complete a teaching degree. Teachers are generally more qualified than previous generations, yet they are under a great deal of stress from parent, student and achievement demands. Apple (2000) discusses the change from ‘licensed autonomy’ to ‘regulated autonomy’ regarding teacher’s work. In the past, teachers taught content they believed to be necessary and society was accepting of students receiving both high and low grades. Now, as regulations become stricter, teachers must teach the same content to students of the same level. If students are under achieving, society now generalises that it is due to poor teaching rather than lack of effort by the student or student disabilities (Darling-Hammond 2000 and Row, 2002). As a result of this, teachers’ professional judgement is no longer trusted, hence the evidential use of prescribed content and regular resting of children’s progress is now mandatory. In the future, VIT aims to advocate for change in the operation of schools to decrease stress amongst teachers and enable teachers to reclaim their power and enthusiasm, similar to decades ago.