Critical conversations (and challenging hegemonies...)

I went back to Maynooth University last week, for the first time since graduating from my Masters almost a year ago. The occasion was the Department of Adult and Community Education's autumn event, for which they'd persuaded the renowned educationalist Professor Stephen Brookfield to make a trip to Ireland from his adopted home in Minneapolis.

The theme of the event was critical conversations, and talking points ranged from the ubiquity/suitability of exam-type assessment to the concept of 'ethical teacher power'. Stephen implored the audience to use their privileges for positive ends, and to reflect on some of the hegemonies they've come to embrace (and take for granted), even when they harm and stifle us.

My mind quickly became filled with examples of hegemonic concepts that have become accepted as 'inevitable', 'unavoidable', 'common sense' to varying degrees throughout these islands: the expectation that teachers must be 'always on' and, perpetually exhausted; the imperative that adult learning must be about 'skills' and labour market activation; the obsession with GCSE resits within England over the past few years that it has become almost dangerous for literacies professionals there to problematise or question.

Credit: Hazel Hurley (hazelhurley.com)

Of course not every hegemony is harmful, some are vital for educators to advocate, defend and protect. But it's never a bad thing to take a moment to reflect on "Why so?" and "Am I the only one who thinks this is bonkers?".

During this event we were fortunate to have the key points of the day captured by a graphic artist - the wonderful Hazel Hurley, whose ability to capture and summarise quite detailed and nuanced points absolutely blew me away.

Best of all was getting to spend the day back on Maynooth campus (even though Aula Maxima was absolutely freezing, as the boiler had broken!).

I also remember why I mostly chose to stay overnight on campus whilst there for Masters, rather than travel from Derry to Maynooth and back in a single day.