FreshEd FreshEd #407 – Education for Societal Transformation (Frank Adamson and Carol Anne Spreen)
Dec 7, 2025
Join Frank Adamson, an education policy expert, and Carol Anne Spreen, an international education professor, as they discuss transformative educational alternatives. They critique neoliberalism's effects on schools and emphasize the need for participatory, solidarity-driven approaches. The conversation highlights the urgency of rethinking education in the face of global crises like climate change and authoritarianism. They advocate for grassroots movements, radical dreaming, and the importance of education in shaping just societies.
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Neoliberalism Reframes Education's Purpose
- Neoliberalism frames education as human capital formation and competition rather than democratic flourishing.
- Frank Adamson argues this paradigm is entwined with capitalism, patriarchy, racism, ableism, and coloniality.
Authoritarianism Enforces Neoliberal Education
- Neoliberalism and authoritarianism now operate together to enforce ideological conformity in schools.
- Carol Anne Spreen highlights censorship, attacks on DEI, and restrictions on teacher autonomy as examples.
Polycrisis Makes Urgent Education Change
- We face a polycrisis (authoritarianism, wars, pandemics, climate) that makes education transformation urgent.
- Frank Adamson emphasizes immediate action, noting carbon budgets and imminent climate tipping points.