Legitimation Crisis in Education

Abstract

Professional educators are increasingly the subject of criticism from citizens. Citizens are concerned that graduates seem unable to perform in work roles. Although this problem significantly reflects changes in the content of work, citizens hold teachers responsible because education has implicitly promised vocational success. The attack on professional educators is intensified by a general citizen attack on commoditized social services. The extent of service delivery structures has led citizens to force service policy into the public political arena. Professional educators have difficulty responding to these problems or challenges because in claiming professional status they disavowed any political interests or skills. The politicization of services suggests that professions will take a new form in the future.