Psychology OF Education

Psychology’s contribution to education has produced a persuasive and burgeoning literature willing to measure (e.g. intelligence quotients), categorise (e.g. learning and/or behavioural diffi culties) and pathologise (e.g. psychiatric disorders) students across learning contexts. Practices like these pervade relationships existing between psychology and education because they share in common certain views of people and the worlds in which they learn. There is however increased acknowledgement that contemporary practice demands alternate ways of working. As learning communities and educators endeavour to make a difference in peoples’ lives, they are critically questioning how their use of psychology in education constitutes future possibilities for personhood and psychosocial action.

This book examines disproportionality in education, focusing on issues of social justice for diverse and marginalized students. It addresses disproportionality as an indicator of biased practices and uses social justice as the frame for conceptualizing disproportionality historically and as a means to improve educational practice. Chapters explore the historical issue of disproportionality in education; outcomes experienced by racially and ethnically diverse students and students with disabilities, including discipline, bullying, and academic achievement; and ways in which social justice can inform policy and practice to make a positive impact reducing disproportionality in education.