This volume aims to stimulate interest in the under-researched role of silent partners (SPs) in multicultural education. Silent partners include formal and informal places-spaces in schools (e.g. architecture, classroom facilities, libraries, corridors, playgrounds, canteens), objects (e.g. teaching aids, furniture, wall decorations and overall interior design), interactive technologies (use of devices and applications) but also often taken-for-granted and not immediately visible patterns of thought, ideologies and assumptions.

People involved in education all engage and work with a number of SPs that contribute to the delivery of curricula, but also to social life and well-being in and out of schools. The way places-spaces, objects and technologies influence the school community's experiences of learning, well-being and social justice is rarely observed and problematised in education - hence the adjective 'silent' in the term 'silent partners'.

This book not only fills a significant empirical gap, but it can also inject public debate over future working environments in schools for multicultural education. It will be relevant to both researchers interested in developing their knowledge on these issues from a different perspective but also educators in search of inspiration for multicultural education.

About the Author
Tuija Itkonen, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Fred Dervin, University of Helsinki, Finland.

Reviews
"How to organize your classroom's configuration in such a manner that all pupils feel welcome and comfortable? While most of those invested in multicultural education focus on the optimization of various linguistic aspects, Itkonen, Dervin and their colleagues give voice to the non?verbal aspects of education. In this book they elaborate how formal and informal places?spaces in schools can unintentionally reflect ideologies and cultural assumptions. They illustrate this perspective with telling examples that come from what is widely perceived as one of the best educational systems in the world. This book is an important, innovative contribution to the question of inclusion of all pupils in our school systems. It provides an eye?opening perspective to researchers in the field, teachers, principals and stakeholders willing to work for social justice in their schools". - Emmanuelle Le Pichon, Vorstman, Researcher and Assistant Professor, Languages, Literature and Communication Department, Utrecht Institute of Linguistics.



Book Information
ISBN 9781681237213
Author Tuija Itkonen
Format Paperback
Page Count 216
Imprint Information Age Publishing
Publisher Emerald Publishing Inc
Weight(grams) 311g
Dimensions(mm) 234mm * 156mm * 12mm