Seminar 1: Political and sociological perspectives: the British context
Oxford Brookes University
9 December 2008
The New Labour government’s Third Way ethos presents the welfare state as crucial for supporting people’s psychological well-being, and regards emotional well-being as central to its particular conception of social justice. Numerous initiatives and a rapid rise in policy-related research, training and consultancy to encourage practitioners to develop and assess emotional well-being change the role of state agencies and lead to new interventions and assessment instruments. Such developments not only suggest that educational institutions are a key site for developing emotional well-being but also that this is educationally and socially progressive.
Speakers
- Kathryn Ecclestone, Professor of Education and Social Inclusion, University of Birmingham: ‘In an emotional state: emotional well-being, social justice and education policy’
- Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology, University of Kent: ‘Confusing motivation with education: the rise of throwaway pedagogy’
- James Park, Director, Antidote: ‘What sort of government intervention should we be talking about?’
- Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive, Royal Society of Arts: ‘A clumsy road to well-being’
Documentation
Relevant publications
- An even better children's plan
www.evenbetterchildrensplan.org.uk - Antidote (2003) The Emotional Literacy Handbook, London: David Fulton
- Connecting for a Change: promoting emotional health and wellbeing
www.ehalliance.org.uk - Ecclestone, K and Hayes, D (2008) The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education, London: Routledge
- Furedi, F. (2003) Therapy Culture: cultivating vulnerability in an uncertain age, London: Routledge
- Layard, R (2005) Happiness: lessons from a new science, London: Allen Lane
- Park, J and Tew, M (2007) Emotional Literacy Pocketbook, London: Teachers’ Pocketbooks
- Taylor, M (2008) Essay for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, London:RSA
- Thompson, M (2008) Organising and disorganising London: Triarchy Press
