1. Philosophy Perspectives
1.1. Generic Notation: Dewey's belief of attainment of a better society through education. Enable students to work cooperatively in a democratic society
1.2. Key Researchers: John Dewey, William Kilpatrick, Francis Parker
1.3. Goal of Education: to balance the needs of the individual as well as the needs of society
1.4. Role of teacher: Facilitator instead of main source of knowledge
1.5. Method of Instruction: Individually and groups, project based, problem solving method
1.6. Curriculum: Social Efficiency; Social Melorist
2. Schools as Organizations
2.1. State Senator: Jeff Sessions and Richard Shelby
2.2. State Superintendent: Tommy Bice
2.3. Representaive on State School Board: Pat Bruns
2.4. Local Superintendent: Ann Jackson
2.5. Local School Board: Willie Moore, Teresa Sherer, Walker Wilson, Steven Gillott, Mary Beth Barber
2.6. House of Representative leaders: Mike Hubbard, Victor Gaston, Jeffery Woodard
3. Equality of opportunity
3.1. 87.6 percent of females graduated from high school and 29.8 percent received a Bachelor's degree
3.2. In the history of the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), male students continue to outperform female students.
3.3. Female students outperform male students in most categories with the exception in math and science, where they have made some gains according to The Condition of Education.
4. Educational Inequality
4.1. The functionalist vision of just society is one where individual talent and hard work are more important than ascriptive characteristics based on particular methods of evaluation
4.2. unequal educational outcomes are the result of unequal educational opportunities
4.3. Ensures the elimination of structural barriers to educational success and provide all groups a fair chance to compete in the educational marketplace
5. Politics of Education
5.1. Progressive
5.1.1. Schools are central to solving social problems
5.1.2. Schools are the vehicle for upward mobility
5.1.3. Schools are essential to the development of individual potetial
5.2. Conservative
5.2.1. Individuals and groups must compete in the social environment in order to survive, and human progress is dependent on individual initiative and drive.
5.2.2. Individuals are rational actors who make decisions on a cost benefit scale
5.2.3. Individuals have the capacity to earn their place within a market economy
6. History of US Education
6.1. The Rise of the Common School
6.1.1. Horace Mann
6.1.2. Addresses stability, order, and mobility
6.1.3. "Balance Wheel" - the great equalizer of the conditions of men
6.2. Radical - Revisionist
6.2.1. Expanded to meet the needs of society for economic efficiency and productivity
6.2.2. The history of U.S education is the story of expanded success for very different reasons and with very different results.
7. Sociology Perspectives
7.1. Interactional Theories
7.1.1. Analyze due to implicit assumptions about learning and children
7.1.2. examine the microsociological and interactional aspects of school life
7.2. Effects of schooling on individuals
7.2.1. Knowledge and Attitudes - More years of schooling leads to greater knowledge and social participation
7.2.2. Employment - require high levels of education
7.2.3. Education and mobility - Civil Religion - education is the great equalizer in the great status of race.