Literacy and Social Responsibility

Frances Christie is Honorary Professor of Education at the University of Sydney and Emeritus Professor of Language and Literacy at the University of Melbourne. She has worked for many years in language and literacy education, and has had a considerable research and publishing record in the area. Recent books have included (2002), Classroom Discourse Analysis: A Functional Perspective. Continuum: London and NY; (2005) Language Education in the Primary Years. University of NSW Press: Sydney; (with J.R. Martin, eds.) (2007), Language, Knowledge and Pedagogy. Functional Linguistic and Sociological Perspectives. Continuum: London and NY; (2008) (with B. Derewianka), School Discourse: Learning to Write across the Years of Schooling. Continuum: London and NY. Alyson Simpson is a senior lecturer at the Faculty of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney. She teaches in undergraduate and postgraduate pre-service teacher programs and supervises research candidates studying in the area of literacy / English education. Her research projects have examined designs for elearning and concepts of visual literacy in higher education and primary schools. She is the co-author of Children's Literature and Computer Based Teaching Oxford University Press: London (2005) and author of Reading Under the Covers: Helping Children to Choose Books Primary English Teaching Association: Newtown (2008).

'This edited text emphasizes an important contemporary theme. Increasingly, literacy is being associated with aspects of advantage and disadvantage, social inclusion and social exclusion. All the authors explore interesting and pertinent areas and this book makes a valuable contribution to the field.' Professor Barbara Fawcett, University of Sydney 'Its ten chapters draw on the authoritative research and field experience of significant thinkers in literacy education and welfare, each one of whom in turn draws on other well-respected data to support a compelling case for the closer articulation of the two fields.' Associate Professor Kristina Love, University of Melbourne

Chapter 1. Frances Christie and Alyson Simpson: Literacy and Social Responsibility Chapter 2. Frances Christie: Literacy as a Theme in Educational Theory and in Policy Chapter 3. Alyson Simpson and Maureen Walsh (Australian Catholic University): Multiple Literacies: Implications for Changed Pedagogy Chapter 4. Peter Freebody (University of Sydney): Socially Responsible Literacy Education: Towards an 'Organic Relation' to our Place and Time Chapter 5. Robyn Ewing (University of Sydney): Literacy and the Arts Chapter 6. Tony Vinson (University of Sydney): The Social Context of Literacy Acquisition: Achieving Good Beginnings Chapter 7. Father Chris Riley (CEO, Youth Off the Streets Program) and Karelynne Randall (Youth Off the Streets Program): The Experience of Youth Off the Streets Chapter 8. David Rose (University of Sydney): Beating Educational Inequality with an Integrated Reading Pedagogy Chapter 9. Denise Lynch (University of Sydney): Enhancing Literacy Education for Refugee Children Chapter 10. Frances Christie and Alyson Simpson: Envoi