1000 Years and 1000 Boys’ Voices: the crisis and radical challenge for boys’ singing, in U. Geisler and K. Johansson (eds), Choral Singing: histories and practices. Cambridge: Cambridge Scholars Publishing.
A “crisis” is a turning point and this chapter gives an account of how boys’ singing must change to adapt to two important turning points. The “secular trend” is a turning point brought about by boys reaching physical and social maturity at earlier ages and the “secularisation trend” is a turning point brought about by the need to find secular alternatives to the choral education for boys that was traditionally offered by the Christian church. More details are available at the publisher’s website.
Other chapters
Chapters in edited collections cover most of the topics I have researched over the years. I have selected some I particularly like:
- (2011) Should I be singing this and if so, how high? boys reveal their masculinities, In J. Adams, M. Cochrane & l. Dunne (eds) The Application of Theory to Educational Research. Chichester: Wiley-Blackwell.
This chapter explores the importance of R. W. Connell as a theorist of masculinity in my work on boys and singing.
The book itself provides new educational researchers with a uniquely accessible introduction to the process of selecting and applying theories in their own work and covers major theorists such as Pierre Bourdieu, Michel Foucault, Max Weber, Jacques Derrida, and Lev Vygotsky.
I’d say it’s a very useful introductory text for those who need to understand that high quality research has to be properly theorised. But I would, wouldn’t I?
- (2008) Rudolph Steiner, In P. Woods (ed.) Alternative Education in the 21st Century: Philosophies, approaches, visions. London: Palgrave MacMillan.
The chapter, rather obviously, is my account of Steiner education. The book is a unique collection of leading examples of education grounded in alternative philosophies and cultures – from initiatives to create more democratic schools, through Quaker, Buddhist, Islamic, Montessori and Steiner/Waldorf schools, to Maori and First Nations education in Canada and Palestinian Jewish schools in Israel. “This is an important and timely book. Not only does it name and explore a range of convincing alternatives to an exhausted and exhausting present, through rich accounts of inspirational practice and incisive and imaginative analysis, it reconnects schooling and education in ways which take seriously the development of the whole person and the development of a vibrant and inclusive democracy.“–Michael Fielding, Professor of Education, Institute of Education, University of London
- (1998) Economics, environment and the loss of innocence. In N. Clough and C. Holden (eds) Children as Citizens. London: Jessica Kingsley, 176 – 182.
An old one, but I still like it. It’s based on my PhD thesis. The book itself looks at the debate on education for citizenship. It examines the views of children and practising teachers on the nature of citizenship, global responsibility and social justice and human rights, as well as the system itself. In their exploration of children’s attitudes to citizenship, and why it might be that initially enthusiastic children grow into cynical adolescents, the authors conclude that, while the current framework for the teaching and learning of citizenship within a school setting provides opportunities for developing children’s eagerness to participate, these opportunities are often not realized.”
I think this is probably more true now than it was when I wrote my chapter, which deals with the citizenship of environmental sustainability.
Other book chapters include:
- Ashley, M., Nicholson, M. (2007) What makes a pedagogy fit for key stage two? In P. Harnett (ed.) Understanding primary education: Developing professional attributes, knowledge and skills, London, Routledge, 54 – 70.
- Ashley, M. (2001) Spiritual development: Whose responsibility is it anyway? In U. King (ed.) Spirituality and Society in the New Millenium. Brighton: Sussex University Press, 151 – 162.
- Ashley, M. (2011) The Canaries in the Cage: Lessons in the role of leadership and pedagogy in conducting from the widening young male participation in chorus project, in U. Giesler & K. Johansson (eds) Choir in Focus 2011, Goteberg, Kor Centrum Syd, 89 – 103 pages, ISBN=978-91-88316-59-2
- Ashley, M. (2011) Adolescent Voices, Encyclopaedia of American Music and Culture, Santa Barbara CA: ABC Clio.
- (2010) The Arts Outdoors,with J. Adams & I. Shirley in S.Waite (ed.) Children Learning Outside, London: Sage.