Part III: Preface – Building Relationships Through an Ethic of Care: Insights from the Work of Julie Long

Abstract

In my reflection on the papers from “Fostering relationships,” I raise the concept of care – care as an ethical stance in teaching. “An ethic of care emphasizes the particular, as carers recognize and respond to individuals, as well as attending to context” (Long 2008, p. 116). I raise this concept of care for two reasons: firstly, because care is a theme that emerged for me from the papers, as I read about the ways in which particular teachers interact with learners to enhance their educational experiences; and secondly, I raise it to insert into this volume the contributions of a Canadian scholar who had much to contribute but too little time to make those contributions. In my reading each author in this section points to relationships among teachers and learners that are fostered through care.