The Active/Ethical Professional

Gunzenhauser (education, U. of Pittsburgh), a philosopher of education and qualitative research methodologist who studies epistemology and ethics in relation to social justice projects in education, aims to help educators rethink their philosophies of education and professional ethics, arguing that both are equally important in today's high-stakes accountability context, which displace these key areas. He aims to lead them to more innovative and sustainable educational practices and presents a framework consisting of an active philosophy of education and cultivating relations of responsibility. He begins each chapter with a story from schools under pressure from state accountability systems (drawn from his research studies) and critiques the effects of high-stakes accountability policy and gives a framework for how educators can respond through a renewed sense of professionalism, based on the work of Foucault and his theories of discipline, ethics, and resistance. He uses the tools of philosophy to construct arguments about the problems of education and potential solutions for the practice of teachers and administrators. He also discusses the importance of relation as a concept for responding to accountability pressures and provides examples of educators' responses to them. The book draws on essays and conference papers published elsewhere. Annotation Ac2012 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Michael C. Gunzenhauser is associate professor in the School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh. He is a philosopher of education and qualitative research methodologist, and studies epistemology and ethics as they relate to social justice projects in education and educational research.