Benjamin Levin
Biographic Data
| ID | 3996960 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Benjamin Levin |
| GIVEN NAMES | Benjamin |
| FAMILY NAME | Levin |
| SIGNATURE | LEVIN B |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Manitoba |
| ORCID | 0009-0005-9946-0932 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 84 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 21 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1985 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2022 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Criminal Law Exceptionalism
Verbally Identical and Infinitely Richer
Quotation is ubiquitous in American legal discourse, whether in academic scholarship, legal briefs or judicial opinions. And yet, although quotation is a common object of scholarly attention, there is very little scholarship on quotation in legal discourse. This article addresses this lack by exploring the United States Supreme Court’s quotation practices. Applying Herbert Clark’s model of joint activities, I argue that quotation in judicial opin…
How Health Status Affects Progress and Performance in School
Putting Students at the Centre in Education Reform
The rhetoric of educational reform
This article is an examination of the language of recent large‐scale education reform in England, New Zealand, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba. In each jurisdiction, we review both the official documents and the parliamentary debate around a set of major educational reforms, looking at both the similarities and differences between jurisdictions and at the overall nature of official discourse. Although some similar rhetoric was …
Current and Potential School System Responses to Poverty
The negative impact of poverty on all educational and life outcomes is well known, yet the issue does not seem to occupy as important a place in education policy or practice as its effects would suggest. This paper, part of a larger study on the way school systems respond to change, looks at the ways in which poverty is understood in school systems and the ways that schools try to respond to it. We argue that although poverty is not created by sc…
Education Finance
The Educational Requirement for Democracy
The ideals underlying education are essentially similar to those underlying democracy, suggesting that schools should embody principles of democracy for students as part of a sound education. Changes in social conditions make this requirement even more important today. School practices, however, are far from democratic in most cases, even though the arguments against democratic practices are not strong. The article concludes with suggestions for …
An Epidemic of Education Policy
Education policy is in a state of change across the industralized countries. Governments everywhere are re-examining many aspects of the provision of schooling. This paper examines the extent to which countries and their subjurisdictions (such as states in the US or provinces in Canada) are learning from each other about the nature of change and reform in education. It draws on formal policy documents and published policy literature in Canada, th…
Debating Pluralism and the Common School
The lessons of international education reform
This paper examines the nature of education reform in English‐speaking countries in an attempt to draw out its implications for other countries. The focus is on three main areas of reform: decentralization and local management of schools, markets and choice programs, and increased use of large‐scale student assessment. Other countries should be very cautious in borrowing these ideas about education reform for at least three reasons: these reforms…
Schools’ understanding of changing communities
Diversity in Canadian education
Issues of linguistic religious, racial and ethnic differences in education have been at the centre of some of the sharpest conflicts in Canadian history. This paper deals with the meanings of diversity, considers some examples of institutional diversity in Canadian education, examines some of the claims made by advocates and opponents of increased diversity, and identifies some principles which might guide public deliberation on the issues
Collaborative research in and with organizations 1
Collaborative research has been more advocated than practiced. Three rationales for collaborative research are discussed. A collaborative study currently under way is used to illustrate the difficulties likely to arise in such endeavours. Persistent problems around collaborative work include differences in purposes, methodological requirements, timeframes, commitments, and outcomes. Although meaningful collaborative work can be done, it is diffic…
Reply to Peter Coleman and Alan Thomas
Peter Coleman and Alan Thomas are two people whose careers have been devoted, with considerable success, to fostering significant improvements in education. I am pleased, therefore, that we agree on many, though certainly not all, points. Peter Coleman and I agree that issue of school dropouts is an important one (as I thought I had said clearly in original paper). Coleman's concept of the excluded is valuable in pointing out, as Thomas notes, th…
Dealing with Dropouts in Canadian Education
In Canada, as in other countries, there has been considerable attention recently to the issue of high school dropout rates. Currently discussion in Canada has linked the issue of dropouts to that of “economic competitiveness”—part of a neoconservative social and economic agenda. Measures taken have primarily tried to prevent dropouts by providing alternative programs, or more counseling and supports. Most efforts replicate existing school structu…
Reflections on Educational Policy Challenges in the Eastern Caribbean
Although there has been considerable development in the field of education in the eastern Caribbean in the last decade, the countries and territories of the region continue to face very major challenges in the area of educational policy. After identifying some of these, I argue that the resolution of these dilemmas will require significant changes from current models and practices, both from an educational and a managerial standpoint. A brief ske…
Tuition Fees and University Accessibility
This paper examines appropriate tuition fee policy for Canadian universities and government. It finds that a policy of low tuition does not enhance accessibility, but that it does limit the ability of universities to raise revenues and may reduce the responsiveness of universities. The paper concludes that a policy of direct assistance (programmatic as well as financial) to those with needs would be a much sounder policy choice
Educational Policy and Development
Educational policy in developing countries has often been designed in imitation of current practice in the industrialized world, even though that practice is itself the subject of a great deal of criticism. Current aid practices have reinforced the imitative approach to educational development. It is possible, however, for both developed and developing countries to learn from the mistakes of developed systems, and to derive lessons emphasizing su…
The Uses of Research
Three case studies of the use of research and evaluation results in a provincial ministry of education are presented. The cases are framed in terms of Cousins and Leithwood (1986) review of the research utilization literature. The factors affecting utilization in each case are analyzed. The cases point to the need for a stronger political orientation in examining research use in organizations. Implications for the study of utilization and for the…
Squaring a circle
An Epidemic of Education Policy
Education policy is in a state of change across the industralized countries. Governments everywhere are re-examining many aspects of the provision of schooling. This paper examines the extent to which countries and their subjurisdictions (such as states in the US or provinces in Canada) are learning from each other about the nature of change and reform in education. It draws on formal policy documents and published policy literature in Canada, th…
The Educational Requirement for Democracy
The ideals underlying education are essentially similar to those underlying democracy, suggesting that schools should embody principles of democracy for students as part of a sound education. Changes in social conditions make this requirement even more important today. School practices, however, are far from democratic in most cases, even though the arguments against democratic practices are not strong. The article concludes with suggestions for …
The lessons of international education reform
This paper examines the nature of education reform in English‐speaking countries in an attempt to draw out its implications for other countries. The focus is on three main areas of reform: decentralization and local management of schools, markets and choice programs, and increased use of large‐scale student assessment. Other countries should be very cautious in borrowing these ideas about education reform for at least three reasons: these reforms…
Collaborative research in and with organizations 1
Collaborative research has been more advocated than practiced. Three rationales for collaborative research are discussed. A collaborative study currently under way is used to illustrate the difficulties likely to arise in such endeavours. Persistent problems around collaborative work include differences in purposes, methodological requirements, timeframes, commitments, and outcomes. Although meaningful collaborative work can be done, it is diffic…
The rhetoric of educational reform
This article is an examination of the language of recent large‐scale education reform in England, New Zealand, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba. In each jurisdiction, we review both the official documents and the parliamentary debate around a set of major educational reforms, looking at both the similarities and differences between jurisdictions and at the overall nature of official discourse. Although some similar rhetoric was …
Diversity in Canadian education
Issues of linguistic religious, racial and ethnic differences in education have been at the centre of some of the sharpest conflicts in Canadian history. This paper deals with the meanings of diversity, considers some examples of institutional diversity in Canadian education, examines some of the claims made by advocates and opponents of increased diversity, and identifies some principles which might guide public deliberation on the issues
Dealing with Dropouts in Canadian Education
In Canada, as in other countries, there has been considerable attention recently to the issue of high school dropout rates. Currently discussion in Canada has linked the issue of dropouts to that of “economic competitiveness”—part of a neoconservative social and economic agenda. Measures taken have primarily tried to prevent dropouts by providing alternative programs, or more counseling and supports. Most efforts replicate existing school structu…
How Health Status Affects Progress and Performance in School
Current and Potential School System Responses to Poverty
The negative impact of poverty on all educational and life outcomes is well known, yet the issue does not seem to occupy as important a place in education policy or practice as its effects would suggest. This paper, part of a larger study on the way school systems respond to change, looks at the ways in which poverty is understood in school systems and the ways that schools try to respond to it. We argue that although poverty is not created by sc…
Squaring a circle
The Uses of Research
Three case studies of the use of research and evaluation results in a provincial ministry of education are presented. The cases are framed in terms of Cousins and Leithwood (1986) review of the research utilization literature. The factors affecting utilization in each case are analyzed. The cases point to the need for a stronger political orientation in examining research use in organizations. Implications for the study of utilization and for the…
Tuition Fees and University Accessibility
This paper examines appropriate tuition fee policy for Canadian universities and government. It finds that a policy of low tuition does not enhance accessibility, but that it does limit the ability of universities to raise revenues and may reduce the responsiveness of universities. The paper concludes that a policy of direct assistance (programmatic as well as financial) to those with needs would be a much sounder policy choice
Educational Policy and Development
Educational policy in developing countries has often been designed in imitation of current practice in the industrialized world, even though that practice is itself the subject of a great deal of criticism. Current aid practices have reinforced the imitative approach to educational development. It is possible, however, for both developed and developing countries to learn from the mistakes of developed systems, and to derive lessons emphasizing su…
Reflections on Educational Policy Challenges in the Eastern Caribbean
Although there has been considerable development in the field of education in the eastern Caribbean in the last decade, the countries and territories of the region continue to face very major challenges in the area of educational policy. After identifying some of these, I argue that the resolution of these dilemmas will require significant changes from current models and practices, both from an educational and a managerial standpoint. A brief ske…
Dealing with Dropouts in Canadian Education
In Canada, as in other countries, there has been considerable attention recently to the issue of high school dropout rates. Currently discussion in Canada has linked the issue of dropouts to that of “economic competitiveness”—part of a neoconservative social and economic agenda. Measures taken have primarily tried to prevent dropouts by providing alternative programs, or more counseling and supports. Most efforts replicate existing school structu…
Collaborative research in and with organizations 1
Collaborative research has been more advocated than practiced. Three rationales for collaborative research are discussed. A collaborative study currently under way is used to illustrate the difficulties likely to arise in such endeavours. Persistent problems around collaborative work include differences in purposes, methodological requirements, timeframes, commitments, and outcomes. Although meaningful collaborative work can be done, it is diffic…
Reply to Peter Coleman and Alan Thomas
Peter Coleman and Alan Thomas are two people whose careers have been devoted, with considerable success, to fostering significant improvements in education. I am pleased, therefore, that we agree on many, though certainly not all, points. Peter Coleman and I agree that issue of school dropouts is an important one (as I thought I had said clearly in original paper). Coleman's concept of the excluded is valuable in pointing out, as Thomas notes, th…
Diversity in Canadian education
Issues of linguistic religious, racial and ethnic differences in education have been at the centre of some of the sharpest conflicts in Canadian history. This paper deals with the meanings of diversity, considers some examples of institutional diversity in Canadian education, examines some of the claims made by advocates and opponents of increased diversity, and identifies some principles which might guide public deliberation on the issues
Debating Pluralism and the Common School
The lessons of international education reform
This paper examines the nature of education reform in English‐speaking countries in an attempt to draw out its implications for other countries. The focus is on three main areas of reform: decentralization and local management of schools, markets and choice programs, and increased use of large‐scale student assessment. Other countries should be very cautious in borrowing these ideas about education reform for at least three reasons: these reforms…
Schools’ understanding of changing communities
The Educational Requirement for Democracy
The ideals underlying education are essentially similar to those underlying democracy, suggesting that schools should embody principles of democracy for students as part of a sound education. Changes in social conditions make this requirement even more important today. School practices, however, are far from democratic in most cases, even though the arguments against democratic practices are not strong. The article concludes with suggestions for …
An Epidemic of Education Policy
Education policy is in a state of change across the industralized countries. Governments everywhere are re-examining many aspects of the provision of schooling. This paper examines the extent to which countries and their subjurisdictions (such as states in the US or provinces in Canada) are learning from each other about the nature of change and reform in education. It draws on formal policy documents and published policy literature in Canada, th…
Education Finance
Putting Students at the Centre in Education Reform
The rhetoric of educational reform
This article is an examination of the language of recent large‐scale education reform in England, New Zealand, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta and Manitoba. In each jurisdiction, we review both the official documents and the parliamentary debate around a set of major educational reforms, looking at both the similarities and differences between jurisdictions and at the overall nature of official discourse. Although some similar rhetoric was …
Current and Potential School System Responses to Poverty
The negative impact of poverty on all educational and life outcomes is well known, yet the issue does not seem to occupy as important a place in education policy or practice as its effects would suggest. This paper, part of a larger study on the way school systems respond to change, looks at the ways in which poverty is understood in school systems and the ways that schools try to respond to it. We argue that although poverty is not created by sc…
How Health Status Affects Progress and Performance in School
Verbally Identical and Infinitely Richer
Quotation is ubiquitous in American legal discourse, whether in academic scholarship, legal briefs or judicial opinions. And yet, although quotation is a common object of scholarly attention, there is very little scholarship on quotation in legal discourse. This article addresses this lack by exploring the United States Supreme Court’s quotation practices. Applying Herbert Clark’s model of joint activities, I argue that quotation in judicial opin…
Criminal Law Exceptionalism
Political science (17 works) · Sociology (16 works) · Economics (7 works) · Law (7 works) · Law (7 works) · Pedagogy (7 works) · Public Administration (7 works) · Economic growth (6 works) · Public Administration (6 works) · Education Systems and Policy (5 works)