Taking Care of the Future: Moral Education and British Humanitarianism in South Africa - Hardcover

by Oliver Pattenden (Author)

Considers processes of moral education that occur outside of schools, in other locations and environments in South Africa
Satisfies numerous appeals for scholarly considerations of how forms of education offered in schools relate to encompassing processes of social, culture, economic and political change

Considers the ongoing (i.e. colonial to postcolonial) relationship between Britain and South Africa by drawing upon ethnographic research conducted in both locations

Back Jacket

Taking Care of the Future examines the moral dimensions and transformative capacities of education and humanitarianism through an intimate portrayal of learners, volunteers, donors, and educators at a special needs school in South Africa and a partnering UK-based charity. Drawing on his professional experience of "inclusive education" in London, Oliver Pattenden investigates how systems of schooling regularly exclude and mishandle marginalized populations, particularly exploring how "street kids" and poverty-afflicted young South Africans experience these dynamics as they attempt to fashion their futures. By unpacking the ethical terrains of fundraising, voluntourism, Christian benevolence, human rights, colonial legacies, and the post-apartheid transition, Pattenden analyzes how political, economic and social aspects of intervention materialize to transform the lives of all those involved.

Author Biography

Oliver Pattenden is an independent scholar engaged in projects that aim to stimulate interdisciplinary inquiry and unite academics and public audiences. He completed his PhD in Anthropology at Rhodes University, South Africa.