1. Politics of Education
1.1. Education- the deliberate, systematic, and sustained effort to transmit, evoke, or acquire knowledge , attitude, skills, or sensibility, as well as the outcome of those efforts
1.2. The conservative perspective- a process that enables the strongest individuals and groups to survive, and looks at human and social evolution as adaption to changes in the environment
1.2.1. The role of school as providing the necessary educational training to ensure that the most talented and hard-working individuals receive the tools necessary to maximize economic and social productivity.
1.3. The liberal Perspective- belief that the free market, if left unregulated , is prone to significant abuses, particularly to those groups who are disadvantaged economically and politically
1.3.1. The role of school aims to providing that all students have equal opportunity to succeed in society.
1.4. The Radical Perspective- the belief that democratic socialism is the is a fairer political economic system
1.4.1. The schools role is to perpetuate the society and serve the interest of those with economic wealth and political power.
2. The History of Educaction
2.1. Old World and New Wold Education: The Colonial Era
2.1.1. Settlers brought their idea of education to the new word
2.1.2. Believed the rich and men were the only people in the world that require an education.
2.1.3. The Old Deluder Law- pointed towards the young and there parents for the short comings of chlldredn
2.2. The Age of Reform: The rise of the common School
2.2.1. Historians point toward a period from 1820 to 1860 in the united states as one of the biggest periods of educational change
2.2.2. By 1820 most schools were not functioning effectively.
2.2.3. The struggle for free public education led by Horace Mann of Massachusetts
2.2.3.1. Left a successful career as a lawyer
2.2.3.2. Lobbied for state board of education in 1837 when it was created.
2.2.3.3. Started the teacher training school
3. Philosophies of Education
3.1. Idealism/Derennialism
3.1.1. Educators are in searching for the truth through ideas, rather then through examination of the false shadowy world.
3.1.2. Role of teacher- analyze and discuss ideas with students in order for them to move to new levels of awareness
3.2. Realism
3.2.1. Role of teacher- Should be steeped in the basic academic disciplines in order to transmit to their students the knowledge necessary for the continue survival of the human race
3.2.2. Curriculum- Science and math, reading and writing, and the humanities.
3.3. Progressivism
3.3.1. In progressivism the teacher is the facilitator.
3.3.2. Children learn in groups or individual
3.3.2.1. Formal instruction is abandoned.
3.3.3. No specific block times during the school day.
3.3.4. Prepare children to be functioning members of society.
3.4. Existentialism
3.4.1. Modern philosophy- concerns on how questions impact the life f individuals.
3.4.2. Education should focus on the needs of the individuals.
3.4.3. They view learning as a personal thing.
3.4.4. Curriculum heavily based towards the humanities.
3.5. Neo-Marxism
3.5.1. Based on the critique of capitalism
3.5.2. Goal is to reproduce and continue society.
3.5.3. Teachers role is to engage the students in certain interaction lessons.
3.5.4. Curriculum is socially constructed.
4. Schools as Organizations
4.1. Governance
4.1.1. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions
4.1.2. State Representative Mo Brooks
4.1.3. State Superintendent Tommy Bice
5. Curriculum and Pedagogy
5.1. Developmentailist Theory
5.1.1. Focus on the needs and interest of the studens
5.1.2. Based on progressive educational theories
5.2. Functionalist Theory
5.2.1. The role of the curriculum is to give the students the knowledge, language, and values to ensure stable society
5.2.2. To further common social orders.
6. Equality of Opportunity
6.1. Implications of Race
6.1.1. White students preform better on the SAT
6.1.2. African american and Hispanic students are behind white students in achievements
6.1.3. Minority students in a lower socioeconomic level preform even lower
6.2. Response to the Coleman Study
6.2.1. Study by James Coleman
7. Educational Inequality
7.1. Cultural Difference Theory
7.1.1. African American children do bad in school because they adapt to their oppressed class and culture
7.1.2. Views working class and non-white students as resisting the dominant culture of schools
7.1.3. Assertion that Asian American families focus on great achievements in school
7.2. School Centered Explanation
7.2.1. School Financeing
7.2.2. School Climate
7.2.3. Pedagogic Practices
7.2.4. Effective versus Ineffective Schools
8. Educational Reform
8.1. First wave of school based reform
8.1.1. Stressed the need for increased educational excellence through higher standards
8.1.1.1. Excellence and equity in schoools
8.1.1.2. Need to clarify educational goals
8.1.1.3. Need for core curriculum
8.1.1.4. Need for changes in vocational education
8.1.1.5. Need for technology education
8.1.1.6. Need to train more teachers
8.2. Race to the top
8.2.1. Adopting standards and assessments to help students succeed in college
8.2.2. Building data systems to measure a students growth and success