These pages have been put together largely in response to requests for details of, and links to, books and articles on education and community action. One or two people have also asked about the research projects I have been involved in – and my background and experience.
current research
Tony Jeffs and I have been undertaking research for a new book that explores the current environments that educators have to operate within. In particular, we focus on the fundamental mistakes being made by policymakers, academics and those charged with developing practice in schools, colleges and local communities.
Much like Tomison’s Academy (pictured above) – which is in South Ronaldsay and on the Buildings at Risk Register – there is a danger of dereliction. We argue for the need to re-imagine education and develop alternative ways of approaching schooling, informal education, and supporting community-led initiatives.
Click for details of previous projects.
recent articles
Understanding the housing crisis in Scotland – and the actions we must take to put things right. We have witnessed a long-running and comprehensive failure in housing policy across Britain. Scotland’s record is better than that seen south of the border – but is now in danger of failing badly. Mark K Smith explores what is going wrong – and what can be done so that all can have decent homes. This piece will also be available in the following formats: pdf (A4), mobi (kindle) and epub (kobo etc) – click to download. [November 2024]
Mary Augusta Ward / Mrs Humphry Ward and the Passmore Edwards Settlement. Mary Augusta Ward aka Mrs Humphry Ward was one of the best-known writers of her day. She was also a key pioneer in the settlement movement and the development of provision for children with disabilities and for play. Alongside this Mary was an advocate for the rights of women, yet she opposed the extension of the right to vote to them. We explore her life and contribution, and the settlement she founded. [updated and extended August 2024]
Click for a full listing of articles with links where available.
books etc
Nearly all of the books that I have been involved with have been digitized and are available online. In the books section, you can click through to them. Also, you will find new epub (kobo etc.) and mobi (kindle) versions of the following texts from the 1980’s and 1990’s:
Newly digitized: Questions for survival. Some problems of political education and how to combat them (1984). Available in pdf (screen and print), epub (kobo and most Android and Apple reading apps) and mobi (kindle) versions.
Click for books and please contact me if you have problems with downloads.
walks
The two London walks featured here make use of Charles Booth’s famous poverty maps (1898-9) which, thanks to the London School of Economics, can be viewed and compared to a contemporary street map. Directions and discussion of the various places to look out for can also be accessed. One Walk explores informal education and is based around The Strand, Covent Garden, Trafalgar Square, Soho and Oxford Street; the other focuses on social action and starts close to Tower Bridge and follows the River Thames eastwards to Rotherhithe. You can walk them for real or virtually.
Both Walks were updated in August/September 2024 and are available via infed.org. You can also download PDF versions by clicking here.
Click for further details.
about me
I edit infed.org – the encyclopaedia of pedagogy and informal education. Alongside this, I am part of a team developing a community-led affordable rental housing initiative close to where I live in Orkney. Formerly the Rank Research Fellow and Tutor at the YMCA George Williams College, London, I have also been a visiting professor in community education at the University of Strathclyde.
Click for further details.