Kathy Hytten — Professor and EdD Coordinator in the Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations (ELC) Department — just completed her term as President of the Philosophy of Education Society (PES). This is an international forum that promotes the philosophic treatment of educational practice, policy and research, advances the quality of teaching the philosophy of education, and cultivates fruitful relationships between and among philosophers, philosophers of education and educators.
The membership of PES is comprised of hundreds of faculty, graduate students, and other interested parties from around the globe. Kathy’s presidency culminated at the Annual Meeting of the society which took place this March in Richmond, Virginia.
During her time as President, Kathy selected a program chair and conference site, and helped to develop the theme and organize the 75th annual national conference. This year’s theme was Rethinking Philosophy of Education for our Complicated Times. Philosophers of education have explored a wide range of issues and questions over the past three quarters of the century, including many related to the value, purpose, and place of educational philosophy.
Reflecting on the role and contribution of philosophy of education as a discipline has been a perennial concern in the field. There is a constant conversation about navigating the desire to be both philosophically sophisticated (consistent with traditions in philosophy) and practically relevant (as is often the demand in schools of education).
At this year’s conference, attendees addressed broad questions about the value, role, and relevance of philosophy of education in light of changing and challenging social, political, and educational dynamics. Kathy also delivered the Presidential Address entitled: To Be of Use: Resisting Entrepreneurial Subjectivity, which will be published in the Society’s annual yearbook, along with two responses.
