Is a Critical Pedagogy for the Profession of Social Work Possible?

Abstract

In this essay, we address the perspective of progressive educators who maintain that academic curricula should be approached through the use of a critical pedagogy. We begin with a review of theories and methods in critical pedagogy and present a set of social and institutional issues that mediate against its use in social work education. We argue that, paradoxically, many of these obstacles in fact make the use of a critical pedagogy indispensable. Basic philosophical, conceptual, and methodological principles of a critical pedagogy for social work are elaborated.

Key Words:

• Pedagogy
• teaching
• critical pedagogy
• social work education
• critical theory