Navigating the tensions and paradoxes in preparing educational researchers

Professor David Labaree was invited as the NIE Higher Degrees Distinguished Speaker from 4 to 6 January 2017. David Labaree is a Professor at the Stanford University Graduate School of Education and a Professor (by courtesy) in history. His research focuses on the historical sociology of American schooling, including topics such as the evolution of high schools, the growth of consumerism, the origins and nature of education schools, and the role of schools in promoting access and advantage more than subject-matter learning. At the Distinguished Lecture entitled, “Peculiar problems of preparing educational researchers”, Professor Labaree emphasised that the problems of educational practice cannot be fixed unless there is deep understanding of practice in the steady work of educational reform. In the seminars with NIE academic faculty and graduate students entitled, “What schools can’t do” and “The trouble with educational schools in the U.S.”, Professor Labaree raised a range of issues in education. From arguing about the lack of causal relationship between education and productivity, to decrying the politicisation of education and acknowledging the challenges of graduate schools of education, he provided a cogent and critical analysis of education and education systems. In a seminar with beginning doctoral students, “Sermon on educational research”, he shared the wisdom of staying truthful in uncovering the big questions and assumptions in education research. Professor Labaree also stimulated rich discussion among a panel of NIE professors in response to key points raised in his lecture, “The peculiar problems of preparing educational researchers: What can NIE do?”