The monkey's mask - Chris Kearney

Identity affects education at the marrow, particularly in the areas of motivation and relevance, which both powerfully affect success at school. An understanding of identity is crucial for teachers working in culturally diverse contexts. The Monkey's Mask takes a refreshingly original look at the problem of identity in our so-called globalised, postmodern and mass-mediated times. It is based on research into the life histories of six academically successful people in their thirties who come from a range of cultural heritages. Their stories unsettle the myths surrounding culture and identity. Their voices are powerful, clear and distinctive, providing fascinating insight into what changes when we cross boundaries and borders. They show how we construct our individual identities and how certain aspects of culture and identity persist across time and space. The book highlights the need to afford a central place to autobiography and life-history in children's exploration of their world. This book will help academics, educators and policy makers to critique the current bland curriculum and provide approaches to learning which are relevant and inspiring to all school students.