The Challenge to Care in Schools: An Alternative Approach to Education

This book challenges the traditional organization of high school studies around the academic disciplines. Noddings argues such emphasis shortchanges not only the noncollege-bound whose interests are almost ignored, but even those who are preparing for college. The latter receive schooling for the head but little for the heart and soul. Noddings counteracts this condition, insisting that our aim should be to encourage the growth of competent, caring, loving and lovable persons, a moral priority our educational system ignores. She argues liberal education dictates what areas of pedagogy are socially acceptable - ignoring a student's wider range of abilities - and undervalues skills, attitudes and capacities traditionally associated with women. Contrarily, it is precisely the competence for caring, Nodding posits, will prepare our students for the environment of the school, the world of work, the realm of ideas, and ultimately, for each other.