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The Forum on the Future of Public Education

The Forum on the Future of Public Education strives to bring the best empirical evidence to policymakers and the public.

The Forum draws on a network of premier scholars to create, interpret, and disseminate credible information on key questions facing P-20 education. The Forum pursues original research and facilitates collaboration between researchers and policymakers to examine the pressing issues shaping the future of public education. Key constituencies of the Forum include scholars who influence research, policy and practice; policy makers and policy making bodies at all levels; members of the media who influence public opinion; foundations, organizations, business groups and others who support, criticize and advocate for reform; and citizens who make choices about education for themselves and their children.

America is witnessing a drastic redefinition of the policies and practices associated with “public education.” Too often, discussions around the future of public education are strong on passion but short on actual evidence. The Forum for the Future of Public Education is filing that gap by building a resource of objective, research-based insights on key educational issues. We are establishing an open venue- a true public forum to debate controversial and consequential policy issues that will shape American’s future.

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Intro to Public Humanities class with Chris Higgins and Anke Pinkert

by the College of Education at Illinois (info@education.illinois.edu) / May 1, 2018

Co-taught by scholars Chris Higgins and Anke Pinkert, the Introduction to Public Humanities course (GCL 199) will be available for students during the Fall 2018 semester. Four themes will be covered in the experiential, interdisciplinary class: attention (how is democratic life affected by a contemporary culture that divides, funnels, and captures our attention); avatars (how we relate to ourselves and others); voice (finding a meaningful voice in the dialogue of public life); and walls (scaling or dismantling walls within ourselves and groups).

Tuesdays and Thursdays
2-3:20 p.m.
English Building, Room 44; Room 69 for breakout groups

Chris Higgins is an associate professor in the Department of Education Policy, Organization & Leadership.

Anke Pinkert is an associate professor in the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures.

Contact Higgins or Pinkert at crh4@illinois.edu or pinkert@illinois.edu for inquiries about the course.