Critical Pedagogy and Dialectical Thought in the Secondary English Classroom

Abstract

In this nation's schools, there must be an increased focus on critical and dialectical thought if there is ever to be any substantive societal change. Due to No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the increased focus on standardization and uniformity of thought, there has been a move away from critical thinking and the fight for social justice. This paper discusses Marx's notion of dialectical thought and its necessity in the secondary English/Language Arts classroom. This is interwoven with examples of techniques and projects which help students view the world around them in a more critical fashion. (C) 2012 by The Transformative Studies Institute. All rights reserved.