Describes some of the primary features of educational criticism, an arts-based approach to qualitative inquiry. Examines the aims of this approach and discusses four dimensions of educational criticism: descriptive, interpretative, normative, and thematic. Addresses questions of rigor and identifies three criteria (consensual validation,…

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. Argues that research in education has become a dead end. Agrees in the main with the article, but finds its view of criticism somewhat limited. Discusses the classroom itself as hypertext. (SR)

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. Argues that a "critical" approach to education should not be justified on an ambiguous relationship to art but that educational criticism is needed because meaningful descriptions are needed of what happens when teaching…

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. Invites the authors to address questions regarding the differences in purpose and commitments between art and science and the definition of educational criticism as a form of qualitative research. (SR)

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. Asks whether such criticism should count as research if it is not accompanied by a full demonstration of its consensual validation, structural corroboration, and by exploration of reasons why the critic gives a particular…

Responds to an article in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. Argues that research and criticism should be viewed as different forms of inquiry leading to different kinds of understanding. Suggests adding another item, "validation of learning," to the list of criteria for…

Responds to points raised in five articles which responded to an article by these authors (Flinders and Eisner) in the same issue of this journal about educational criticism as a form of qualitative inquiry. (SR)

Addresses the following issues, as illustrated by methodological features of a year-long ethnography of two high-school English classes: (1) the particular features and purposes of ethnography as a research genre; (2) the contributions it has made; and (3) the greatest challenges facing the ethnographer. (TB)