Social Pedagogy, Informal Education and Ethical Youth Work Practice

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Thompson, Naomi and Slovenko, Karolina. 2015. Social Pedagogy, Informal Education and Ethical Youth Work Practice. Ethics and Social Welfare, 10(1), pp. 19-34. ISSN 1749-6535 [Article]

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Official URL: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/174965...

Abstract or Description

This paper questions current approaches to youth work practice and evaluation in England and suggests that current practices based on tick-box targets and outcomes compromise the core values of the profession. The targeting of certain groups of young people is an over-simplistic and stigmatising process that does not reflect what is meaningful about youth work. It also marks a step away from informal education, which has traditionally provided the theoretical underpinning to youth work in England. Youth work in England needs to develop a stronger evidence base as a process based on informal education to be given consideration by policy-makers and funders. In the second half of the paper, we introduce social pedagogy - a form of theory and practice developed in wider Europe - and outline its values and approach. We argue that this approach may fit with the values of informal education and that it may contribute to offering an evidence base for a values-centred alternative to the currently dominant articulations of youth work. We hope this paper stimulates further consideration of this approach among youth workers and their educators.

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Article

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https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2015.1106005