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The Rhetoric of Concern: Trust and Control in an Urban Desegregated School
Author(s) -
Slawski Edward J.,
Scherer Jacqueline
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
anthropology and education quarterly
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.531
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 1548-1492
pISSN - 0161-7761
DOI - 10.1525/aeq.1978.9.4.05x1857k
Subject(s) - rhetoric , dysfunctional family , sociology , control (management) , public relations , race (biology) , public administration , political science , gender studies , psychology , management , linguistics , philosophy , economics , psychotherapist
Various sets of actors in an urban desegregated high school are found to use a rhetoric of concern in discussing events in the school and the operation of the school. This rhetoric is based upon the accepted understanding that schools do “what's best for kids.” Since the rhetoric appeals to diverse segments of the Pawnee community, it enables school officials to manage the conflicting demands of maintaining control and gaining the confidence of the community. The rhetoric of concern allows school people to talk about control in ways that build trust. Although this kind of language is useful in gaining a consensus, it is dysfunctional for dealing with the persistent problems of race relations in this desegregated high school.