Exploring Well-being in Schools: a Guide to Making Children’s Lives More fulfilling by John White, 2011, Abingdon and New York: Routledge (Book Review)

Abstract

John White asks the important question, What is education for? He notes that the traditional academic design came out of a different ‘horse-drawn’ age (p.144) arguing that reviewing and changing direction is so difficult that inertia results. He recognises that critics might label his views as utopian, but seeks through this book to highlight how ‘well-being’ might be a helpful curriculum purpose. “Equipping everyone with the wherewithal for a flourishing personal and civic life will become their [schools’] clear, unmuddied purpose” (p.144). This is the fulfilment of the subtitle. He even hopes for the end of the examination system (p.106) (etc.)