ABSTRACT
In recent years in the USA (and other societies) we have witnessed a resurgence of activism by the religious right and other conservatives seeking to shape social policies and public institutions, including those in education. While not wanting to demonize such activity, I wish to discuss the choice of models that educators with a more secular or less conservative orientation should adopt in their efforts with/in communities to improve educational institutions and the world for children and ourselves. I will focus on whether as educators we should conceptualize and organize our work and lives in schools and communities around the notion of professionalism or politics.
