Life and Death in Higher Education (eBook)

Dr Clare Debenham was originally trained at a college of education and lectured at three others. She has a Doctorate in politics from the University of Manchester where she taught in the department of Politics. She is now an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Manchester. She regularly writes for the Times Higher Education and has been selected to present her research at British and International conferences including one organized by the University of London. She is also a member of the History of Education Society and has published in their journal.

This clearly written book offers a fascinating history of a neglected sector of higher education in Britain, the teacher training colleges and colleges of education thatwere merged or closed in the 1970s. Did such a move contribute to the shortage of teachers today? Here, Clare Debenham provides an informative account of thisprovocative issue. June Purvis, Professor Emerita of Women's and Gender History University of PortsmouthClare Debenham's lively study addresses critical questions that concern our provision of well-qualified, skilled and committed teachers for schools today. Extensively sourcedin institutional history and lived experience, a striking feature is the creative and influential role of many outstanding women. This book illuminates the formation ofa key profession engaged in a vital task - raising new generations of healthy, skilful, socially-minded and democratic citizens. Dr Peter Cunningham, Emeritus Fellow, Homerton College, University of CambridgeDebenham provides a vivid picture of the life of the colleges, drawing on interviews and archival material, and uses their death as a starting point for some provocative analysis of how teacher training is best provided inside and, increasingly, outside higher education.David Bridges, THE, July 2021