Thinking in the Midst 46. On Responsibility (the concept and the book)
Jun 14, 2024
Barb Stengel, a retired Vanderbilt faculty member and author of the book Responsibility, joins educators Kathy Hytten and Deron Boyles to explore the concept of responsibility in education. They discuss the troubling impact of neoliberal accountability on teaching, emphasizing the importance of fostering democratic habits. Kathy connects responsibility to issues of race and privilege, while Deron critiques how current policies undermine teacher professionalism. The conversation highlights the need for collective responsibility and reimagining schools to prioritize meaningful engagement.
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Responsibility As A Capacity
- Responsibility is a human capacity to respond, distinct from accountability and blame.
- Barb Stengel frames it as a Deweyan, forward-looking habit that guides pedagogy and policy.
Nested Democratic Obligations
- Responsibility connects to democratic life and nested obligations to others and community.
- Kathy Hytten emphasizes distinguishing responsibility from accountability and mapping levels of owed duties.
Accountability Versus Responsibility
- Accountability has become micromanaging surveillance tied to blame and market logic.
- Deron Boyles argues shifting to responsibility removes blame and oppressive control.
