Kevin Orr

Joel Petrie

Marie Daley

‘Cinderella’ is the dominant metaphor used to describe further education, but this book challenges the deficit metaphor and replaces it with another of the Brothers Grimm’s tales, the ‘Twelve Dancing Princesses’. The twelve princesses escape from the room they are locked in to dance all through each night. As a metaphor for teaching in FE, this tale suggests the possibility of subversion, of autonomy in teaching and learning, and a collective rather than individualist notion of professionalism, even within repressive contexts.Twelve chapters from twelve experienced practitioners suggest professional development that will culminate in a collective, celebratory alternative. They explore the professional aspirations and commitment to social justice of prospective teacher education students in spite of the current ideological context of FE. They argue for inspiration from critical pedagogy so FE can maintain transformative professional space. They explore the impact of technology on learning, and the physical spaces in which teaching and learning are situated. They challenge the prevailing managerialist use of lesson observation and the resistance and collusion of FE managers. And they propose a notion of professionalism that focuses on educational values rather than market forces. This engaging, accessible and thought-provoking book is essential reading for teacher training courses, postgraduate students, sector researchers, and members of professional bodies and trade unions. If the sector is to be Grimm, asserts this inspirational collection, it should be so on our own terms: powerful, democratic and professional.

Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses

Maire Daley

Caliban's Dance concludes the trilogy begun with Further Education and the Twelve Dancing Princesses, and continued with The Principal: Power and Professionalism in FE. The contributors probed the question 'Where in FE is there space to dance?'; then 'What restricts the dance?' Now we ask: 'With no restrictions, what would a future FE dance be like?'FE is subject to reductive utilitarianism by policymakers: Caliban's Dance counters with vivid dreams of a sector unfettered. The book's central metaphor is Caliban from Shakespeare's The Tempest, a play that can be read as a manifesto for second chances, transformation and learning. The contributors re-imagine FE as utopia: if it is to be Grimm, they demand that it be so on their own professional terms - as powerful, democratic, dancers.

Joel Petrie

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