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Meaningful evaluation of citizenship education: The co-construction of a framework
No full textAssessment is a focal point in current discussions on and practices of democratic citizenship education. To what extent is it possible and desirable to assess citizenship education, especially in standardized ways (Daas, Ten Dam & Dijkstra 2016)? In a learning community of seven Dutch high schools we developed an alternative form of evaluation, informed by a critical review of available assessment methods in the Dutch context. Dutch schools and teachers are struggling with the citizenship assignment in general, and the obligation to monitor outcomes in particular (De Groot, Daas & Nieuwelink 2022). This is often framed in terms of incompetence, to be remedied by clearer guidelines and professionalization. The learning network started from the premise that teachers’ experiences, opinions and possibly critical stances towards assessment of citizenship education should be taken more seriously, also in light of epistemic justice (Fricker 2007). In a process of co-creation, we investigated how schools could comply with the Dutch law (mandating monitoring of citizenship education outcomes) in a way that did justice to their own (critical) views on citizenship education and assessment. In five meetings we discussed experiences with and concerns over standardized assessment of citizenship education and worked on an alternative called ‘Meaningful evaluation of citizenship education’. This alternative focusses on the meaning of educational, democratic and citizenship experiences of pupils and teachers and their developing citizenship narratives and orientations (De Groot & Lo 2022). The paper places the experiences and results of the learning community in the international debate on the assessment of citizenship education, focusing on the relation between content (alternative perspective on citizenship education and evaluation) and the method of co-creation (asserting teacher and student agency and the struggle with top-down educational policies)
Goals and outcomes of chaplaincy in varying outpatient, primary, and community care contexts
No full textSeveral studies have examined the goals and outcomes of chaplaincy within institutional settings. Our study contributes to the literature by examining whether chaplaincy goals and outcomes are specific to different outpatient, primary, and community care contexts. We conducted a round of 9 and one of 8 focus groups, with clients, chaplains, and other professionals from five contexts: the Dutch earthquake zone, general healthcare, pediatric palliative care, care for the unhoused, and veteran care. Using an explorative, descriptive and quantitative design, 77 goals and 59 outcomes are compared and categorized in a four-quadrant framework. Our findings show few differences between goals and outcomes of different contexts. However, the goals of care for the unhoused and veterans focus more on the inner experience of the relationship with the chaplain. Non-context-specific goals and outcomes might be related to how chaplaincy is approached, and the context-specific ones to existential concerns in the care contexts.</p
Where to aim with multispecies climate justice?:A critical realist account
No full textClimate justice has become a key concept in addressing normative challenges in climate change and related policies. However, most applications of the term have remained anthropocentric. The multispecies justice perspective seeks to remedy this anthropocentrism, through focusing on relationality between and among human and non-human actors in climate justice. We engage with three points where this perspective remains to be developed further: the scope of ‘subjects of justice’, the meaning of ‘justice’ and institutional applications of multispecies justice. We argue that the reliance in multispecies justice literature upon hybridist ontologies of nature and society hampers advancement in these three aspects. We, therefore, propose an alternative ontological foundation, based on critical realism, that can resolve these limitations in current approaches to multispecies justice, contributing to further development of the concept
From human capital to flourishing. A more humane aim of education
No full textDit hoofdstuk presenteert een alternatief voor de dominante meritocratische en neoliberale opvatting over wat we van mensen zouden moeten waarderen in onze samenleving en daarmee op scholen. Volgens deze opvatting zouden we het menselijk kapitaal van leerlingen moeten vergroten door hun cognitieve vermogens te vergroten en leerlingen te stimuleren om hoge prestaties op toetsen te leveren. Daarmee kunnen leerlingen een goede bijdrage leveren aan economische groei en bloei. Verdedigd wordt dat niet het floreren van de economie het ultieme doel of de bedoeling is van onderwijs, maar het floreren van mensen. Mensen floreren als ze hun potenties kunnen ontwikkelen en hun capaciteiten kunnen inzetten om activiteiten te ondernemen en relaties aan te gaan die zinvol en waardevol zijn. Het hoofdstuk licht toe waarin dat doel zich onderscheidt van meritocratie en wat als verdienste (‘merit’) geldt. Dit wordt verbonden aan de nieuwe onderwijsvisie van de Organisatie voor Economische Samenwerking en Ontwikkeling (OESO), waarin ook floreren als doel van onderwijs wordt voorgesteld
The Art of the Novel as a Tool for Education in the Anthropocene: Exemplified by Salman Rushdie’s the Ground Beneath Her Feet
No full textJürgen Habermas's Post-Secular History of Philosophy
No full textIn Also a History of Philosophy (2019) Habermas observes that in the history of modern thought, metaphysical approaches are increasingly redundant; they are losing their ability to determine supra-historical principles, which constitute the foundation of the common good. He believes that a metaphysical interest in existential and ethical matters can only be of a personal nature. In what he calls the ‘post-secular era’, Habermas wants to embed religious communities in a secular conversation. It is not religion that is criticized by Habermas, but the last remnants of philosophical metaphysics that are visible in the German tradition of thought. This article argues that Habermas comes to conclusions which abandon truth orientation in philosophical metaphysics. Habermas paints a picture of the philosophical tradition in which it comes to the realization that transcendental forms of thought cannot offer strong arguments anymore. This article tries to briefly present an alternative picture of philosophy that does not identify with such a post-metaphysical interpretation. It is argued that religious intuitions can only be translated into secular language and taken seriously if this ambition of a philosophical metaphysics to express valid claims about ethical and existential questions is not abandoned.In This too a History of Philosophy (2019) Habermas observes that in the history of modern thought, metaphysical approaches are increasingly redundant; they are losing their ability to determine supra-historical principles, which constitute the foundation of the common good. He believes that a metaphysical interest in existential and ethical matters can only be of a personal nature. In what he calls the ‘post-secular era’, Habermas wants to embed religious communities in a secular conversation. It is not religion that is criticized by Habermas,but the last remnants of philosophical metaphysics that are visible in the German tradition of thought. This article argues that Habermas comes to conclusions which abandon truth orientation in philosophical metaphysics. Habermas paints a picture of the philosophical tradition in which it comes to the realization that transcendental forms of thought cannot offer strong arguments anymore. This article tries to briefly present an alternative picture of philosophy that does not identify with such a post-metaphysical interpretation. It is argued that religious intuitions can only be translated into secular language and taken seriously if this ambition of a philosophical metaphysics to express valid claims about ethical and existential questions is not abandoned
Restitution as Restoration and Transformation
No full textThis entry explores restitution as a dual concept that is both past-oriented and restorative, as well as future-oriented and transformative. It connects restitution to restorative and transformative paradigms of transitional justice–the movement that studies the long-term effects of past injustices and the instruments addressing them. Connecting the duality of restitution to transitional justice paradigms helps to better understand restitution as a complex concept that is not only defined by injustices in the past but by socio-political structures in the present.The entry begins with studying how restorative and transformative notions are entangled in restitution contexts of both the Second World War and colonialism. Restitution as restoration here means the attempt to reconstruct pre-loot realities; restitution as transformation means a focus on the enduring legacies of mass violence today and the establishment of new relations. Then, the entry connects these perceptions of restitution with restorative and transformative paradigms in transitional justice. Finally, the entry reflects on how a transitional justice perspective on restitution can help to enhance understandings of the everchanging meanings of the past in the present
Seeking consensus on dilemmas related to euthanasia in dementia based on an advance directive:a Delphi study from a medical, ethical and legal perspective
No full textEuthanasia in dementia based on advance euthanasia directives (AEDs) is possible within the Dutch Euthanasia law. Yet, physicians struggle with the responsibility of interpreting the law's open norms in cases of advanced dementia, which includes the fulfilment of the due care criteria. This Delphi study aims to analyse arguments and seek consensus from medical, ethical and legal perspectives on ethical dilemmas in such cases. Thirty participants, equally divided in expertise, took part in a three-round Delphi with a total of 11 statements on ethical dilemmas. Despite differences in opinions and argumentations between panellists, consensus was reached on seven statements regarding different topics. Consensus was reached that the (behavioural) expressions of a person with dementia should be considered throughout the progression of decision-making disabilities. In such cases, a wish to live should be prioritised over an AED. Although substitute decision-making is not an option in case of euthanasia requests, both people around the person with dementia as well as their AED can be supportive in the decision-making process. Advance directives with formulations such as 'if I have to admitted to a nursing home, then I want euthanasia' are found to be infeasible. At all times, it is important to pay attention to alternatives to euthanasia, which includes following existing guidelines on problem behaviour. Physicians may benefit from the arguments pertaining to dilemmas encountered and the fulfilment of the due care criteria to either justify their decisions in euthanasia cases based on an AED, or to support decisions to refrain from euthanasia.</p