Modern times and societies have limited ways of dealing with their problems. At least three are shared widely: power/military, economy and schooling/pedagogy. A research tradition called the educationalization of social problems (Smeyers/Depaepe 2008) refers to these ways of problem-solving strategies. If societal problems are defined or appear and no answer is at hand to allay the situation, schooling and education are named. This strategy and promise helps societies threefold: (I) an immediate redemption is followed by optimism for a better future (II): the upcoming generations, innocent and pure, will solve the problem and are immunized for afterwards. Soon it becomes clear that schools are not able to do what society asked them. Then (III) criticism of schooling and education leads to scandals, despair and disappointed redemption narratives as the promises crumble. These are times of externalization (Schriewer 2003) – a look abroad, how other education systems are dealing with similar problems – and reforms – sometimes led by policy lending or borrowing (Steiner-Khamsi/Waldow 2012).

Since the implementation of compulsory schooling, public narratives on the state of education and schooling are full of hope and fear for future generations. Regional, national and international groups discuss social problems and delegate them to schools in the hope of allaying the situation. Based on three case studies, the panel intends to discuss the role of redemption narratives through education and schooling, their failure, the consequences and their aftermath. Redemption narratives and their implicit hopes can be used as a projection screen for societal fears, hopes and wishes. Thus, they can be used as an interpretive frame for specific times, societies and groups.

Schriewer, J. (2003): Globalisation in education: Process and discourse. Policy Futures in Education, 1:2; 271-282 Smeyers, P.; Depaepe, M. (Eds.)(2008): Educational Research: the Educationalization of Social Problems. Springer Steiner-Khamsi, G.; Waldow, F. (Eds.)(2012) World Yearbook of Education 2012. Policy Borrowing and Lending in Education. Routledge