FreshEd #31 - Simon Springer

FreshEd

Do schools provide the best education possible for children? My guest today believes schools are the greatest barrier to education. Simon Springer is an Associate Professor in the Department of Geography at the University of Victoria, Canada. He advocates and practices with his children a concept he calls un-schooling, but which also goes by the more popular name de-schooling. Simon’s research agenda explores the political, social, and geographical exclusions that neoliberalism has engendered, particularly in the context of contemporary Cambodia, where he emphasizes the role of violence and power. He cultivates a cutting edge theoretical approach to his scholarship by foregrounding both poststructuralist critique and a radical revival of anarchist philosophy. In today’s show Simon discusses his new co-edited volume, The Radicalization of Pedagogy: Anarchism, Geography, and the spirit of revolt (Rowman & Littlefield, 2016). Before starting the show, I want to apologize for the high pitched sound that you’ll hear throughout the interview. Since this is a no-budget show that doesn’t record in professional sound studios, sometimes these technical problems happen. I’m sorry for the inconvenience, but I decided to play the interview as-is because Simon’s ideas are worth considering.