Sociology

August 30, 2023

The Ontology of Student Agency: Are there Elephants in the room?

“Belinksy was just like Krylov’s Inquisitive Man, who didn’t notice the elephant in the museum” Demons (Dostoevsky, 2008) Abstract: This short article discusses an ontological concept of student agency within K-12 schooling. It is argued that ontologically, student agency does… Continue reading
November 23, 2015

The end of education- as we know it?

by Lawrence Burke Education in the 21st century is a multi-billion dollar business. It wasn’t always that way. Ancient cultures provided an education based on the foundations of literacy (writing, reading & numeracy) underpinning further studies in languages, culture, religions,… Continue reading
November 19, 2015

Technology: How much is too much?

by Lawrence Burke One of the more comic technology items introduced in 2013 was the iPotty. A simple device was attached to a toilet training potty for very young children. They could play with apps and Google away while waiting… Continue reading
January 23, 2014

World War 1, Historical Revisionism & the Distortion of the Horrors of War

by Lawrence Burke The 28th of July, 2014 marked the 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1. I was born 35 years after the end of WW1 and 8 years after the end of WW2, so both major… Continue reading
December 6, 2013

Prisoner 46664: The Last Great Statesman

by Lawrence Burke The death of Nelson Mandela leaves a more obvious vacuum in the international and humane leadership of the world today-perhaps it’s safe to say given recent history in South Africa, since he stepped down as President of… Continue reading
November 12, 2013

What’s To Be Done about the Acceptable Institutionalization of Bullying?

by Lawrence Burke The shocking revelations about bullying in American Football has left many people around the globe perplexed, bewildered and befuddled about the perception and understanding of bullying in the world today. Richie Incognito claims leaving racists and threatening… Continue reading
January 7, 2013

The Uncomfortable Truth about Violence, Entertainment and Violent Crime in Society.

by Lawrence Burke Three weeks after the United States of America was overwhelmed with grief at the murderous rage of a 20 year old man who went on killing spree ending the lives of 26 people, including 20 children in… Continue reading
December 19, 2012

Questions arising from the Process of Schooling and Societal Violence

by Lawrence Burke On Tuesday 2nd October 2006, a 32 year old man held hostage a group of young students between the ages of 6 and 13 at a small rural Amish school in Pennsylvania, and later executed 3 girls… Continue reading