Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- 1 The New Authority
- 2 Vigilant Care
- 3 Children's Violence Within the Home
- 4 Enlisting Support in the School
- 5 Presence and Supervision at School
- 6 Publicity and Reparation
- 7 Involving Students in the Campaign Against Violence
- 8 The New Authority in the Community
- References
- Index
1 - The New Authority
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 05 May 2016
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- Foreword
- 1 The New Authority
- 2 Vigilant Care
- 3 Children's Violence Within the Home
- 4 Enlisting Support in the School
- 5 Presence and Supervision at School
- 6 Publicity and Reparation
- 7 Involving Students in the Campaign Against Violence
- 8 The New Authority in the Community
- References
- Index
Summary
“Teachers used to have authority!” “Parents used to be parents!” “I respected my father!” “The teachers we had in our childhood were teachers!” Expressions like these, regarding authority as we once knew it, imply that until things return to their former state, there will be no remedy for the problems of education. Indeed, traditional authority has been severely undermined; however, today's social conditions will not allow a return to its former state. This authority enjoyed the unconditional support of most elements of society. Almost everybody agreed that parents and teachers should be obeyed simply because they were parents and teachers. Public opinion, as well as the educational, religious, media, and legal establishment, endorsed this outlook. This all but unanimous support no longer exists. Many now consider traditional authority as illegitimate and some of its central props, such as corporal punishment, distance, awe, unconditional obedience, and immunity from criticism have become morally unacceptable. Consequently, we cannot and do not wish to restore traditional authority to its former status. Most attempts to do so have negative effects, because without a broad social base the only way this kind of authority can subsist is by the exercise of naked power and the induction of fear.
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- The New AuthorityFamily, School, and Community, pp. 1 - 36Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2010