An exploration of control in schools : a discourse analysis of secondary school mission statements in the greater Cape Town region

Given the political changes in South Africa in recent years, an exploration of any particular set of education-related documents, as far as the impossibilities/possibilities they allow for action, is made tempting and promising. This is what the present study takes on; more particularly, a discourse analysis (disciplined reading) of school mission statements. The results in general reveal support for both a traditional and a liberal/progressive orientation to schooling and control, arguably limiting the possibility of realising democracy within the school, and increasing the likelihood of punitive techniques of control. One of the most evident ideals seems to be of providing for the nation's person-power needs, and of ensuring later financial security for the individual. Finally, it was found that at well resourced schools, there is a resistance to transformation and in particular social equality, accompanied by support for a liberal capitalist system. In comparison, at less resourced schools there is less support for a capitalist system, but rather a desire for socioeconomic transformation.

Grantor dc:publisher.institution

School of Education

Year dc:date.issued

1999

Author dc:creator

• McKinnon, Candice

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Craig, Anita

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/11427/9951

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/9951