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Equity, Schooling and Wellbeing

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Wellbeing, Equity and Education

Part of the book series: Inclusive Learning and Educational Equity ((ILEE,volume 1))

Abstract

‘Wellbeing’ and ‘social justice’ are often discursively connected, particularly in the context of schooling. This chapter discusses what is understood by social justice and equity in schools. To examine this question, it is necessary to consider the purpose of schooling.

Different understandings of schooling arise from different ideological positions, particularly welfare-liberal and neo-liberal stances. The former values the intrinsic value of education and would see social justice as enhancing opportunities to lead a meaningful life. The latter values education for its economic purposes and would see social justice as enhancing the skills, knowledge and personal attributes that can be traded on the job market (human capital). This chapter shows how both of these ideologies are at play in education, simultaneously, and explores the composite purposes of education, coupled with the implications for equity.

Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach is used to introduce the notion of social justice as the freedom to lead a life you have reason to value. In this view, the value of education in supporting individuals to become economically active is not forgotten, but this is seen to be a means to an end. Ultimately in this view, education serves to enhance opportunities to recognise and pursue those things that are value to the individual. This has considerable implications for the learning and wellbeing of children.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Apple (2006) points out that many of the individuals who take on these roles may very see themselves as politically left-leaning, having devoted their lives to public service, yet in the name of ‘efficiency’ they design and implement the instruments of the capitalist state.

  2. 2.

    ‘Soft’ laws are international treaties, which may be, in theory, legally binding, but whose main influence is exerted as a tool for applying diplomatic and moral pressure on governments.

  3. 3.

    Slightly confusingly, the term ‘capability’ is used in two different, but inter-related ways. A person’s Capability refers to his / her overall opportunities to achieve wellbeing through different functionings. But equally Sen refers to ‘capabilities’ in the plural which refer to the different opportunities available (such as health care / education /employment) which collectively form a ‘capability set’ (Robeyns 2005). In this book the two uses will be distinguished by capitalising ‘Capability’ when it refers to a person’s overall set of opportunities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Education, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK

    Jennifer Spratt

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  1. Jennifer Spratt
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Spratt, J. (2017). Equity, Schooling and Wellbeing. In: Wellbeing, Equity and Education. Inclusive Learning and Educational Equity, vol 1. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50066-9_3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-50066-9_3

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