The Ivan Illich Learning Web

Our Mission/Statement of Purpose

The purpose of the Ivan Illich Special Interest Group (SIG #161) of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) is to honor Illich’s legacy, a thinker that the Utne Reader called “the most important social critic” of the last century. In part, we do this by producing scholarship that applies, extends, critiques, and reimagines Illichian ideas about the nature of education. We also seek to promote philosophical and historical scholarship that looks at the life of Ivan Illich and the context of his ideas and practices. Finally, we seek to act as conservators of hope within the profession, however ironic a gesture this may be.

Join Our SIG

Our dues are a mere $6 per year, or $4 per year for students. Please take a moment to join our SIG and support the initiative.

In order to join any AERA SIG, please log on to the membership section of AERA by clicking on “Member Login” in the upper left corner of the this page. On the Members Welcome page, under “Purchases”, click on “Special Interest Groups”. Follow the directions to register for SIG membership. To learn about AERA Membership, please visit the AERA Membership page. Current members may also download a SIG Membership Form. Once you join, please then take the opportunity to send in your Membership Profile for inclusion on this website.

2009-2010 Officers / Contacts

Richard Kahn [SIG Chair], University of North Dakota, 231 Centennial Drive, Grand Forks, ND 58202; (701) 777-3431, (fax) (701) 777-0121; rvkahn@gmail.com

Madhu Suri Prakash [SIG Vice-Chair], The Pennsylvania State University, 310 Rackley Bldg, University Park, PA 16802; (814) 863-3769; msp1@psu.edu

David Greenwood [Program Chair], Washington State University, 264 Cleveland Hall, Pullman, WA 99164; (509) 335-9188; greenwood@wsu.edu

Lynda George [Secretary / Treasurer], Central Connecticut State University, Barnard Hall Room 270, 1615 Stanley Street, New Britain, CT 06050; (860) 832-2430; georgely@ccsu.edu