Colleagues,
From time to time people write to us at the Journal Editorial Committee
for clarification and discussion. If we think the discussion to be of
interest to members we will forward it to inform and enhance
ethnographic discussion.
The discussion below is one such interchange.
Bob
Dear Bob,
I was thinking perhaps it would be worthwhile to examine the use of the
term 'culture' in studies of education, in particular contrasting the
'thin descriptions' in many School Improvement texts with the other
theoretical approaches (e.g. Willis, Bourdieu). I've just read
Alvessen's very interesting book on the many different uses of the term
in studies of business organisations. I'd want to look, empirically, at
basic features of schooling (the patterns of behaviour we often take for
granted, but which become visible when we look at exceptional schools
e.g. the allocation of space, hierarchy, the patterns of students' work.
What do you think? I'm hesitant, in terms of your journal, because I've
no specialist ethnographic training.
Terry
-----Original Message-----
From: R.A.Jeffrey
Sent: 06 December 2004 11:18
To: 'Terry Wrigley'
Subject: RE: E&E Journal - Call for Papers
Terry,
Certainly the study of culture would be a major theme for papers for the
journal and in particular the differences between those theorised
policies and those that are not and where values are 'hidden' behind
phrases like 'what works'. The study of everyday behaviours is of course
a key to understanding discourses and value based policies - MacLaren's
Ritual Performance being a classic. The study of exceptional schools is
of course a means to do this from anthropology, eg: Peter and my work on
creative teaching. We highlight the policies of these unusual schools
and they way they cope to highlight the tensions between policies and
values. As to ethnography you have obviously responded to our aims and
criteria which were intended to highlight both our cultural and policy
interests as well as our methodology. The latter is complex as there
many definitions but the basic principles of including all actors
perspectives at a site/s in the analysis and gaining depth by returning
time and again to people's perspectives and observer's observations are
the keys. Having said that we will no doubt publish articles where less
time is spent in situations than might be considered 'good'ethnography.
However, we have anticipated that in our paper on Time in Ethnography -
BERJ Vol 30/4. Our highest respect for articles goes to those that
identify issues, investigate them and problematise them and draw
tentative forward looking conclusions.
So, we would welcome articles on the issues above and if you can get
near some of the ethnographic principles the better. Having said that we
are also interested in methodological articles that relate to the uses
of ethnography and its problems. Hope this helps. Bob
-----Original Message-----
From: Terry Wrigley [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 06 December 2004 10:37
To: R.A.Jeffrey
Subject: Re: E&E Journal - Call for Papers
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