journal articles and book chapters 1975- | infed articles 1996- | exploring south ronaldsay 2025-
Please let me know if you have difficulties borrowing or downloading books or articles.
Journal articles, book chapters and presentations 1975-
Smith, M. and Barnes, D. (1975). ‘The uncharted careers officer’, Careers Quarterly 26(3): 37-38.
Smith, M. (1976). ‘A community approach to careers work training’ Careers Quarterly 27(2): 21-6. epub version | pdf version
Smith M. (1980).’A practice for freedom: informal political education and youth work’, Teaching Politics 9(1) 22-35. A Practice for Freedom – Mark Smith -1979 [pdf]
Smith, M. (1981).’Learning interpersonal skills. Social group work in schools’, Social Science Teacher 10(4): i-vi.
Smith, M. (1987). ‘Non-formal political education’ in C. Harber (ed.) Political Education in Britain. Lewes: Falmer Press. pp. 74 – 89. Smith-non-formal-political-education [pdf]. Also available online:
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1987). What future for initial training’, Youth and Policy 20: 7-14). (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-20/).
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1989). ‘Youth’ in M. Haralambos (ed.) Developments in Sociology Vol. 5. Ormskirk: Causeway Press, pp. 1-20.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1990). ‘Youth work, Youth Service and the next few years’, Youth and Policy 31: 21-29. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-31/)
Smith, M. (1991). ‘In the Service of Youth Revisited’, Youth & Policy 34: 36-40. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-34/)
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1991). Fallacy: The school is a poor base for youth work. A version of this piece by Tony Jeffs and Mark Smith was published in: O’Hagan, B. (ed). (1991). The Charnwood Papers. Fallacies in community education. Ticknall: Education Now Publishing Cooperative Ltd. [https://infed.org/mobi/28446-2/]
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1992). ‘Youth’ (with Tony Jeffs) in M. Haralambos (ed.) Developments in Sociology Vol. 8. Ormskirk: Causeway Press. pp. 65-91.
Smith, M. (1992). ‘The possibilities of public life: educating in the community’ in G. Allen & I. Martin (eds.) Education and Community: the politics of practice. London: Cassell, pp. 105-117. The possibilities of public life – Mark Smith [pdf].
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1992). ‘Putting youth work in its place’ Youth and Policy 36: 10-16. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-36/).
Smith, M. (1992). ‘Researchers, practitioners and working with young people around HIV/AIDS’ in P. Aggleton (ed.) Young People and HIV/AIDS Research. Swindon: Economic and Social Research Council.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. (1993). ‘Getting the job done. Training for youth work – past, present and future’, Youth and Policy 40: 10-32. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-40/).
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1994). ‘Young people, youth work and a new authoritarianism’ Youth and Policy 46: 17-32. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-46/).
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1995). ‘Youth’ in M. Haralambos (ed.) Developments in Sociology Vol. 11. Ormskirk: Causeway Press. pp. 63-88.
Smith, M. K. (1995). ‘Developing critical communities of practice’, Groupwork pp. 134 – 151.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1996). ‘“Getting the dirtbags off the streets” – curfews and other solutions to juvenile crime’, Youth and Policy 53: 1-14. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-53/).
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1998). ‘Youth’ in M. Haralambos (ed.) Developments in Sociology Vol. 14, Ormskirk: Causeway Press, pp. 55-79, 1998a.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1999). ‘Informal education and health promotion’ in I. Simnett, E. R. Perkins and L. Wright (eds.) Evidence-Based Health Promotion: Principles and practice. Chichester: John Wiley, pp.206-215.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1999). ‘The problem of youth for youth work’), Youth and Policy 62, pp. 45 – 66. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-62/).
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (1999). ‘” Tainted money”: ethical dilemmas in the funding of youth and community work’ in S. Banks (ed.) The Ethics of Youth Work. London: Routledge, pp. 55-74.
Smith, M. K. (2000). ‘Informal Education – Classic texts revisited’, Youth and Policy 70, pp 78-90. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-70/).
Smith, M. K. (2001). ‘Settlements and adult education’ in R. Gilchrist and T. Jeffs (eds.) Settlements, Social Change and Community Action. London: Jessica Kingsley, pp. 123-151. Click to download a pdf of the article: Settlements and adult education
Smith, M. K. (2001). ‘Josephine Macalister Brew: youth work and informal education’ in R. Gilchrist, T. Jeffs and J. Spence (eds.) Essays in the History of Community and Youth Work. Leicester: Youth Work Press, pp. 203-220.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (2001). ‘Youth’ in M. Haralambos (ed.) Developments in Sociology Vol. 17, Ormskirk: Causeway Press, pp. 77-101.
Smith, M. K. (2001). ‘Place, space and informal education’ in L. Deer-Richardson M. Wolfe (ed.) Informal Education and Lifelong Learning: Principles and practice. London: Routledge. [https://infed.org/dir/place-space-and-informal-education/]
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (2002). ‘Individualization and youth work’ Youth and Policy 76, pp 39-65. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-76/).
Smith, M. K. (2002). ‘Socialpædogogik’, Tidskrift for Socialpædogogik, nr 10, pp. 20-26.
Smith, M. K. (2003). ‘From youth work to youth development. The new government framework for English youth services’, Youth and Policy 79, pp. 46-59. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-79/).
Smith, M. K. (2004). ‘Eduard C. Lindeman and the meaning of adult education’, Youth and Policy 82 pp. 75-86. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/y-and-p-82.pdf).
Smith, M. K. (2004). ‘The case for youth work’ – a presentation to the Prime Minister’s Strategy Unit. http://infed.org/dir/the-case-for-youth-work/
Smith, M. K. (2005). ‘Voluntary organizations’, in The International Encyclopaedia of Lifelong Learning. London: Palgrave.
Smith, M. K. (2006). ‘Beyond the curriculum’ in Zvi Bekerman; Nicholas C. Burbules & Diana Silberman (eds.) Learning in Places: The Informal education reader. New York: Peter Lang USA. You can read an earlier version of this piece on infed.org (https://infed.org/dir/beyond-the-curriculum-fostering-associational-life-in-schools/)
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (2006). ‘Where is Youth Matters taking us?’, Youth and Policy 91 pp. 23-39. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-91/).
Smith, M. K. (2007). ‘Social capital’ in Gary McCulloch and David Crook (eds.) The International Encyclopaedia of Education. London: Routledge.
Smith, M. K. (2007) ‘Youth work and clubs’ in Gary McCulloch and David Crook (eds.) The International Encyclopaedia of Education. London: Routledge.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (2009). ‘Valuing youth work’, Youth and Policy 100. (https://www.youthandpolicy.org/y-and-p-archive/issue-100/).
Smith, M. K. (2009). ‘Why history?’ in Ruth Gilchrist et al. (eds.) Essays in the History of Youth and Community Work. Lyme Regis: Russell House Press.
Smith, M. K. (2010). ‘Informal education’ in W. Curtis and A. Pettigrew (eds.) Education Studies. Reflective Reader. Exeter: Learning Matters. Pp. 154-9.
Smith, M. K. (2011). Young people and the 2011 ‘riots’ in England – experiences, explanations and implications for youth work. London: The Rank Foundation [YARN]. https://markksmith.net/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/The-2011-riots-yarn-v3.pdf or https://infed.org/dir/young-people-and-the-2011-riots-in-england/.
Jeffs, T. and Smith, M. K. (2021). The education of informal educators, Education Sciences.
Smith, M. K. (2022). Why cohousing is good for people and communities – the evidence. Hope Cohousing.
infed.org articles 1996-
There are over 150 articles written by me on infed.org, which started in 1996. Some recently written and updated articles are listed below.
Ellen Ranyard (“LNR”), Bible women, district nurses and informal education. Known for using innovative methods, Ellen Raynard (1810-1879) brought about the first group of paid social workers in England and pioneered the first district nursing programme in London. [Updated and extended April 2025]
Ivan Illich on deschooling, conviviality, and systems. Possibilities for education and social change. Known for his critique of modernization and the corrupting impact of institutions, Ivan Illich’s concern with deschooling, learning webs and the disabling effect of professions struck a chord among many educators and pedagogues. We explore some key aspects of his theories and his continuing relevance for teaching, pedagogy and learning.[Updated and extended January 2025]
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 is also available as a pdf (A4) – 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 provisions 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. [Major update 2024]
Exploring Social Action – A walk in Bermondsey and Rotherhithe. This area has experienced severe poverty and disadvantage over the years, and this is reflected in Booth’s maps (1898-99). Settlements, missions and various government bodies have been involved in trying to stimulate change, and some notable innovations were made. However, support and innovation have also come from local people and their organizations. Revised and extended, and can be used alongside Charles Booth’s online poverty maps and the current Open Street Map). [Major update 2024/5]
Exploring South Ronaldsay
You don’t have to go far in South Ronaldsay to find fascinating places to visit and things to do. On the website – exploringsouthronaldsay.net – we are highlighting settings that, hopefully, give people a flavour of the island and insights into its history and daily life. We also list a range of sites of historic interest. What follows is a list of some of the currently published pages. Further pages are in development.
Smith, M. K. (2025). A (very) brief history of South Ronaldsay, Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. [https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/a-very-brief-history-of-south-ronaldsay/.
Smith, M. K. (2025). Five places you must visit and experience in South Ronaldsay, Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. [https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/five-places-you-must-experience-in-south-ronaldsay/.
Smith, M. K. (2025). Archaeological sites in South Ronaldsay. Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. [https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/archaeological-sites-in-south-ronaldsay/].
Smith, M. K. (2025). Churches and chapels to visit and explore in South Ronaldsay and Burray. Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. [https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/churches-and-chapels-in-south-ronaldsay-and-burray/.
Smith, M. K. (2025). Mills – water and wind – in South Ronaldsay. Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/mills-water-and-wind-in-south-ronaldsay/.
Smith, M. K. (2025). Schools in South Ronaldsay and Burray. Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/schools-and-halls-in-south-ronaldsay/.
Smith, M. K. (2025). Standing stones in South Ronaldsay. Exploring South Ronaldsay. St Margaret’s Hope. https://exploringsouthronaldsay.net/standing-stones-in-south-ronaldsay/.
Photograph – Hannah Arendt, portrait in the courtyard of her birthplace – by Hannes Grobe – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=148728155
updated: August 22, 2025