Transforming Mind: A Critical Cognitive Activity (Series in Language & Ideology)

Emergent paradigms in the physical sciences are combined with deconstructionist methods and Vygotsky's theory of speech and thought to formulate new mind-sets for society and education, which will promote nonlinear, nonpatriarchal, nonviolent, anti-authoritarian worldviews on which to build stronger individuals and societies. E. D. Hirsch and other establishment education reformers are shown to be dangerously noncritical and bound to old paradigms that advocate simple solutions to complex problems. Gannaway contends that the nature of contemporary American society is unique and must be creatively analyzed before the educational system can be effectively reformed. She shows teachers how to use familiar texts from popular culture to develop habits of critical thinking that will protect students and citizens from insidious mass media myths.