Intellectuals or technicians? The urgent role of theory in educational studies¹

Abstract

Abstract This paper discusses some problems with the field of educational studies and considers the role of post‐structuralist theory in shifting the study of education away from a 'technical rationalist' approach (as evidenced in the case of much research on educational management and school effectiveness) towards an 'intellectual intelligence' stance that stresses contingency, disidentification and risk‐taking.