My Foundations of Education

1. Equality of Opportunity

1.1. Educational Achievement & Attainment-Achievement gaps among whites, blacks, and Hispanics goes up in relation to parental level of education

1.2. Coleman Study Response-Where an individual goes to school has little effect on his or her cognitive growth or educational mobility

2. Philosophy of Education

2.1. Pragmatism

2.1.1. General Notions

2.1.1.1. Children learn through experientially as well as through books

2.1.1.2. Proposed that educators start with the needs and interests of the students

2.1.2. Key Researchers

2.1.2.1. George William Sanders

2.1.2.2. William James

2.1.2.3. John Dewey

2.1.3. Goal of Education

2.1.3.1. Teach the "whole child"

2.1.3.2. Integrate children into a democratic society

2.1.3.3. Primary goal of education-growth

2.1.4. Role of Teacher

2.1.4.1. Encourages, offers suggestions, questions, and helps plan and implement courses of study

2.1.5. Method of Instruction

2.1.5.1. Dewey proposed that children learn through groups by problem-solving or the inquiry method.

2.1.6. Nature of Curriculum

2.1.6.1. Supports a connection between knowledge and experience

2.1.6.2. Based on the child's natural interests

3. Schools as Organizations

3.1. State Senators

3.1.1. Richard Shelby

3.1.2. Jeff Session

3.2. State Superintendent

3.2.1. Thomas R. Bice

3.3. Marshall County AL Board of Education

3.3.1. Superintendent-- Cindy Wigley

3.3.2. Board Members--Vince Edmonds, Bill Aaron, Mark Rains, Tony Simmons,

4. Curriculum and Pedagogy

4.1. Historical Curriculum Theory

4.1.1. Social Efficiency Curriculum

4.1.1.1. Rooted in the belief that different groups of students, with different sets of aspirations, should receive different types of schooling

4.1.1.2. Pragmatist approach to education developed in the early 20th century

4.2. Sociological Curriculum Theory

4.2.1. Modern functionalist Theory

4.2.1.1. Stressed the role of schools in preparing students for complex roles required in modern society

4.2.1.2. Functionalists believed that curriculum needs to change to meet new requirements in the modern world

4.2.1.3. Believe that schools should teach students values essential to modern society

5. Educational Inequality

5.1. Functionalists explanation of unequal achievement-- believe that the role of schools is to provide a fair and meritocratic selection process for sorting out the best and brightest individuals, regardless of family background.

5.2. School centered explanation--Genetic or biological argument

6. Politics of Education

6.1. Conservative Perspective

6.1.1. 1st feature- looks at human & social evolution as adaptation to changes in the environment. From this view point, individuals & groups must compete in the social environment in order to survive. Human progress is dependent on individual initiative & drive. 2nd feature- Viewpoint is the belief that the free market or market economy of capitalism is both the most economically productive economic system & the system that is most respectful of human needs

6.1.2. Conservatives support a return to basics, traditional academic curriculum, and accountability measures for students and schools

6.1.3. Ronald Reagan represented the political ascendancy of this viewpoint during his presidency

6.2. Traditional Visions of Education

6.2.1. Hardwork

6.2.2. Family Unity

6.2.3. Individual Initiative

7. History of US Education

7.1. Important Educational Reform Movement

7.1.1. Education for Women & African Americans

7.1.1.1. 1820's

7.1.1.2. 14th amendment gave full citizenship to ex-slaves in 1868

7.1.1.3. Emma Hart Willard opened 1st female seminary in New York in 1821

8. Sociological Perspectives

8.1. Theoretical Perspectives

8.1.1. Functional Theories

8.1.1.1. Interprets each part of society in terms of how it contributes to stability of the whole society

8.1.2. Conflict Theories

8.1.2.1. Originated with Karl Marx. This theory assumes that social life is shaped by groups or individuals who struggle or compete

8.1.3. Interactional Theories

8.1.3.1. Focuses on the concrete details of what goes on among individuals in every day life

8.2. Effects of schooling on individuals

8.2.1. Knowledge & Attitudes

8.2.1.1. School academic programs and policies do make a difference in student learning. The more education an individual has, the more likely they are to read newspapers, books, and take part in politics and public affairs.

8.2.2. Employment

8.2.3. Education & Mobility

9. Educational Reform