Whilst there were fewer sessions at this year’s conference, the standard of presentations remained high. Speakers challenged common conceptions of “school culture” and “religious education”, and provided fascinating and rich alternative formulations. We witnessed a timely symposium in which the speakers asked if education could progress in a time of “no future”. Delegates enjoyed a fascinating exploration of aesthetic matters when presenters looked at the ways in which music may help us attend to the “other” and explored the ways in which educators might “make school” in ways analogous to the making of films. In short, the searching and creative work that typifies the network was as much on display as ever. Indeed, there were fascinating presentations on areas as varied as biographical learning, memory, embodiment, responsibility, children’s play, P4C and the language of pedagogy amongst others. Anyone present at the excellent final session on public education witnessed the fact that the limitations of online communication need not necessarily dampen the opportunity for passionate philosophical debate and discussion.
Psychoanalysis had nested in our network since ECER in Copenhagen. Psychoanalysis sessions were well attended and there some excellent symposia and papers on themes/areas including the pandemic and political expediency. Network 13 will no longer host Psychoanalysis and I am delighted to announce that they now have their own network – Network 21 Psychoanalysis and Education. We wish them the best of luck for future conferences.
This year we had the opportunity to hear the work of new presenters and were so grateful for their contributions to the event and indeed kind words regarding the supportive and welcoming atmosphere within the network. Our network can only remain vital if it grows and we encourage researchers with an interest in philosophy of Education to submit to Network 13.
Many thanks are due to my co-convenors Joris Vlieghe, Piotr Zamojski, Stefano Oliverio and Marit Hoveid for their work in reviewing submissions and chairing sessions. Special thanks to Lovisa Bergdahl who stepped down after many years as co-convenor of the network.