Empowering Teacher Professionalism: Collegiality and Practical Wisdom in Education

This book explores the transformative potential of ‘collegial practical wisdom’ (phronēsis) as a foundation stone for teacher professionalism. Reconceptualising Aristotle’s practical wisdom as a values-led interweaving of research, professional knowledge and theory, Julia Flutter takes us on a voyage of exploration to map a future course for change. This study uses an innovative, New Materialist methodology to produce a conceptual mapping of collegial practical wisdom for teacher professionalism and is presented as three ‘charts’. The first is an autoethnographic study of the author’s 30 year research career, working alongside teachers, students and policy makers. The second chart delves into the literature to explore theory, research, policy and practice relating to practical wisdom and teacher professionalism. The third chart looks at published narratives by teachers and researchers working collaboratively in ways that demonstrate collegial practical wisdom in action. These charts are brought together as a cartographic research assemblage to trace the complex, entangled threads identified across the journey. The conclusion proposes recommendations for creating a power-grid of collegial practical wisdom to generate an empowered teaching profession.