Demands of Liberal Education

What should the aims of education be in a liberal society and who should exercise control over education? How can children be taught to become good citizens of a pluralistic state? This text seeks to answer these questions by drawing upon political theory, philosophy of education, and empirical research to develop a liberal theory of children's education that is provocative and new. The book argues that contrary to the assumptions of many philosophers, educators, parents and politicians, the liberal state is obligated as a matter of justice to help all children develop the capacity for autonomy. Levinson argues that liberal governments should exercise much greater control over schools than they now do.

"With the utmost clarity and integrity, Meira Levinson shows just how demanding a dliberal education is, in theory and practice. Everyone who is concerned about educating children for autonomy should read this book." Professor Amy Gutmann, author of Democratic Education, Director of the Centre for Human Values and Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics, Princeton University, New Jersey, "A ringing and important defense of a robust liberal educational ideal. Levinson moves surefootedly between theory and practice, and tackles the deepest problems facing the future of educational policymaking in modern liberal democracies." Professor Stephen Macedo, author of Diversity and Distrust: Civic Education in a Multicultural Democracy, and Laurance S. Rockefeller Professor of Politics and the University Center for Human Values at Princeton University, New Jersey

Dr. Meira Levinson is a teacher at the Atlanta Public Schools