Title: Poststructuralism in Education - Theory & Examples (2021)
Headings: Poststructuralism in Education – Theory & Examples
Poststructuralism in Education – Theory & Examples
Students studying to be teachers are often asked to write about how poststructuralism is relevant to education.
Table of Contents
1. What is Poststructuralist Theory?
To start right now, remember that poststructuralism is all about truth and power. Who has the power to control what is true and what isn’t?
As you read on, you’re going to see that poststructuralists think people in power (generally white, male, heterosexual, middle-class people) tend to have greater control over determining what is true and what isn’t.
So you, as a teacher, will need to make decisions about what texts you will expose your students to. Which truths will you reinforce?
But more on that later.
2. Scholarly Definition of Poststructuralism
Here are 2 scholarly definitions you can use:
3. Key Concepts: Discourse, Truth, and Power
a) Discourse
What discourse about childhood will you use in the classroom? Will you speak of children as if they’re brats, innocent, or in another way?
b) Truth
That’s because the dominant discourse wherever you are has a strong influence on what you come to believe to be true.
So, what is true?
c) Power
4. Five Famous Poststructuralist Theorists
a) Michel Foucault
b) Jacques Derrida
c) Giles Deleuze
d) Judith Butler
How will you challenge the dominant discourse of gender as a teacher?
Further Reading and Citations for the Above Information
e) Deborah Youdell
How will you create an ‘inclusive discourse’ in your classroom?
5. Relevance of Poststructuralism to Education
a) Diversity
b) Inclusion
6. Examples of How to use Poststructuralism in the Classroom
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a) Conduct an audit of the diversity represented on books on your bookshelf
b) Encourage social critique
c) Challenge gender stereotypes
d) Teach about the perspectives of historically underrepresented groups
Further Reading and Citations for the Above Information
7. Criticisms of Poststructuralist Theory
a) It doesn’t value the principle of falsifiability
b) It all too often defines people by their identities
c) It’s responsible for our moral relativist and post-truth media climate
d) It is too political for classrooms
Further Reading and Citations for the Above Information
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8. Benefits of Poststructuralism in Education
a) It focusses on inclusion and social justice
b) It leads to critical thinking
Further Reading and Citations for the Above Information
9. Further Reading and Sources for your Essay
Full List of Follow-Up Articles
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Content: Is there really an objective ‘truth’ or is truth defined by the people in power? Your head might be spinning. To start right now, remember that poststructuralism is all about truth and power. Who has the power to control what is true and what isn’t? You might be thinking that truth is truth. It’s objective. Things are either true or they aren’t. Poststructuralists would disagree. They think truth is up for debate: your truth and my truth may be completely different.