Social Foundations of Education (SFE) courses play a critical role in preparing professional, effective PK-12 teachers, yet, for reasons argued in this article and elsewhere, such courses remain under attack. In this article, by arguing what SFE "stands for" as opposed to what it "stands against," the authors intend to…

As many have noted, we are seeing the continuing marginalization of Social Foundations of Education (SFE) courses and programs to the point at which some are disappearing completely. SFE can play a vital role in helping universities establish relationships with their local communities that are equitable and based upon the voices and needs of the…

Critical pedagogy is an instructional approach to teaching that employs a theoretical framework by which social injustices are critiqued. This type of pedagogy encourages the learner to critique obstructions to the learner's full participation in society, and encourages critical collective action, through the engagement of the learner's…

Comments on Tozer's position paper on the social foundations of education, offering further historical background that provides a relevant context for Tozer's statement, current realities that make such ongoing dialog important, and future possibilities, alternatives, and cautions for effective action on behalf of the social foundations of…

This response to Tozer's position paper on the social foundations of education endorses the spirit of Tozer's proposals but not their formulation or rationale. The paper argues for the pursuit of multiple educational strategies grounded in cultural and social foundations of education and directed toward various levels of the policy environment.…

Teacher educators must concentrate on helping the individual teacher revise his or her professional self-identity and become artistically empowered, despite the frustrating role-constraints to be encountered along the way. Teaching artists need assistance in acquiring the understandings and skills of political interaction. Implications for…

Reviews Tozer's position paper on the social foundations of education (SFE), examining how accepting the qualifier "social" could affect the discipline. The paper discusses SFE's journey toward self-definition, clarification of SFE's multiple meanings, SFE's distinctive contribution to teacher education, and proposed content and process…

Supports Tozer's general themes in defining the social foundations of education (SFE) but raises questions about limitations in his analysis. After presenting a historical and contemporary basis for a definition of SFE, the article offers a revised definition of SFE and presents three purposes of the study of SFE. (SM)

This response to Tozer's position paper on the social foundations of education (SFE) suggests that, to realize SFE's distinctive contribution to effective teaching, social foundations educators need a common discourse. SFE is a distinctive field of study within education that utilizes a distinctive methodology and emphasizes a distinctive content.…

Discusses Tozer's position paper on the social foundations of education (SFE), relating SFE more strongly to teachers' public rather than their private problems, suggesting a different approach to the relation of liberal arts theory and educational practice that is less driven by vocational concerns, and examining social relationships and social…

This position paper generates consensus regarding the contribution of the social foundations of education (SFE) to effective teaching. The paper distinguishes the meanings of SFE from those of foundations of education, states the contributions of SFE instruction in teacher education programs, and proposes relevant content and processes of study.…

This response to Tozer's position paper agrees that the social foundations of education (SFE) is distinct from foundations of education. The paper describes the development of SFE, explaining that the prime task of foundations is to prepare teachers to promote values that define contemporary American values. (SM)