Reconstructing the teacher as a post secular pedagogue: a consideration of the new Teachers’ Standards

Abstract

The new Teachers’ Standards draw upon the Prevent Strategy in foregrounding the upholding of ‘fundamental British values’ as a central tenet in teacher work. This article explores the relationship between values, religion and Standards in teacher work. A consideration of the new Standards gives rise to the notion of teacher as cultural custodian, moral compass and upholder of the virtues. The cornerstone of Western liberal education – that education is essentially secular – is, arguably, challenged in the light of the new Teachers’ Standards, which have made a significant break with past Professional Standards. As such, this article considers the tension between the (contested) secular norm and the introduction of a professional and personal values dimension in teacher work. The model of teacher as post secular pedagogue is thus advanced in this article.

Keywords:

• standards
• values
• secular
• post secular
• pedagogue