Prophets, pastors and profiteering

Exploring External Providers' Enactment of Pastoral Power in School Wellbeing Programs

Bibliographic Data

ID2938690
AuthorsLouise Mccuaig (0000-0002-9982-2324, The University of Queensland, corresponding author), Liz Woolcock (The University of Queensland), Michalis Stylianou (0000-0002-5905-8229, The University of Queensland), Johan Y Y Ng (0000-0003-0783-879X, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong), Amy S Ha (0000-0002-9943-9122, Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong)
Year2020
Volume41
Issue2
Pages223-237
Publication date2020-03-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueDiscourse Studies in the Cultural Politics of Education (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0159-6306 • E-ISSN: 1469-3739
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/01596306.2020.1722425
OpenAlexW3006580518
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited25

This paper explores the governance practices that external providers of school wellbeing programs employ in their contribution to the subjectification function of education. In neoliberal times where this ‘game’ of subjectification has become more open, governmentality scholars have been challenged to provide more robust insight into how discourses permeate individual subjectivities. In response, we draw on recent theorising of Foucault's pastoral power concept and a resulting analytic framework of four interlinked practices to explore external providers’ endeavours to ‘shepherd’ students, teachers and parents in the practices and responsibilities of personal wellbeing. Our data revealed that discourse tension and conflict emerges within school communities’ increasingly ‘messy’ pastoral terrain. In conclusion, we suggest that more empirical and theoretical insight into actors’ resistance and agency within the pastoral power landscape of schools offers a vital contribution to our understanding of external providers’ influence on education policy and enactment

Corporate governance · Governmentality · Management · Pedagogy · Political science · Politics · Public relations · Social science · Sociology · Subjectification · Children's Rights and Participation · Foucault, Power, and Ethics · Global Educational Policies and Reforms · Law

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