The importance of cultural studies for education: For teachers and policymakers in america

Abstract

Here, I make the case for the value of a cultural studies approach to educational studies for teacher education programs that prepare future teachers and support the continued learning of teachers working in schools in America. I am making the case for my colleagues in higher education and teachers in the schools, as well as the intended audience of legislators and policymakers to help them understand the importance of cultural studies programs as they seek to find ways to improve schools in America. I lay out in the section “Educational foundations” some historical context to educational foundations as a field of study within teacher education programs. In the section “Cultural studies of education”, I describe cultural studies as a multidisciplinary approach to educational foundations. In the section “Policy studies and educational studies”, I consider what cultural studies has to offer for educators in the future and explore ways that cultural studies contributes to the understanding of educational issues for policymakers whose policies effect teachers’ and students’ daily lives in our schools.