My Foundations of Education

1. Education Inequality

1.1. Conservatists say we should return to humanist foundations. Idealists say we should teach the great works of mankind.

1.2. Sociological explanations

1.2.1. Conflict theorists support the idea that student's success is affected by their environment

1.2.2. Interactionists theorists support that student success is determined by a combination of factors such as family, social class schools and environment.

2. Sociology of Education

2.1. Definition of Theoretical Perspectives

2.1.1. Functionalism: Functional sociologists view society as a machine where one part depends on another part, in order to produce a successful society.

2.1.2. Interactionalism: Interactional theories are primarily critiques and continuations of the functional and conflict perspectives. They understand the "big picture. They also believe that it would be more helpful to focus on what schools are like on an everyday basis.

2.1.3. Conflict Theory: Conflict theorists argue that social order is based on the ability of dominant groups to take control of groups through force, cooperation, and manipulation.

2.2. 5 Effects of Schooling

2.2.1. Knowledge and Attitude:The more knowledge a student receives the higher level of achievement they will achieve.

2.2.2. Employment: A person with higher-level of education will greatly increase their chances to get a job.

2.2.3. Education and Mobility: Occupational and social mobility begin at the school.

2.2.4. Teacher Behavior: Teachers instill an academic and social confidence in students which in turn influence the student's achievements.

2.2.5. Student Peer Groups and Alienation: A student's cultural surroundings influences the student's development.

3. Philosophy of Education

3.1. Pragmatism

3.1.1. Generic Notions

3.1.1.1. Dewey believed the key to attaining a better society was to go through education by forming the school into an "embryonic community."

3.1.2. Key Researchers

3.1.2.1. The founders of the pragmatism school are William James, John Dewey, and George Sanders Pierce.

3.1.3. Goal of Education

3.1.3.1. Dewey believed the function of schools was to prepare students to participate in a democratic society. He believed that the main focus of education was to help students grow.

3.1.4. Role of teacher

3.1.4.1. Teachers are there to encourage their students by offering suggestions and help to plan and implement a course of study.

3.1.5. Method of Instruction

3.1.5.1. Dewey proposed the concept of students learning both individually and in groups. He believed in the problem-solving method

3.1.6. Curriculum

3.1.6.1. Progressive schools usually follow a core or integrated curriculum . Supporters believe in a curriculum that is flexible and can change when the student's interests change and grow

4. Schools as Organization

4.1. Governance

4.1.1. Each state is responsible for education.

4.1.2. US Department of Education created in 1970

4.1.3. Department of Education has very little power.

4.2. Centralization

4.2.1. The average elementary school is 450 students.

4.2.2. The average high school is about 856 students.

4.3. Student Composition

4.3.1. Ten states have no minorities.

4.4. Private School

4.4.1. 28,200 elementary and secondary private schools in the US

4.4.2. Only educate 10% of all students

4.4.3. Most private schools are located on east and west coasts.

5. School Reform

5.1. Characteristics of a highly effective teacher

5.1.1. a calling for the profession

5.1.2. personal qualities

5.1.3. instructional effectiveness

5.1.4. willing to go the extra mile

5.1.5. lifelong learner

5.2. federal involvement

5.3. societal, community, economic, and political reforms

5.4. full service schools

6. Curriculum and Pedagogy

6.1. Social Influences, Political influences and cultural and special interest

6.2. Social efficiency is cornerstone of progressivism. Conservatists say social efficiency has diluted the curriculum.

6.3. Private schools gain popularity because students choose schools that support their belief.

6.4. Sociology of the Curriculum

6.4.1. Social order determines the curriculum.

6.4.2. Capitalist Society

6.5. Stratification of the Curriculum

6.5.1. Students are tracked and directed to specific curriculum.

7. Equality of Education

7.1. Calculating educational and life outcomes

7.2. Social stratification-three systems

7.2.1. Caste

7.2.2. Estate

7.2.3. Class systems

7.3. Functionalist theorists support the idea that each students' success is determined by their own hard work and desire to succeed.

7.4. Class

7.4.1. Schools represent the middle and upper class.

7.4.2. Parental income is directly related to educational achievement and test performance.

7.5. Race

7.5.1. Minorities do not receive same as white Americans.

7.6. Gender

7.6.1. In twenty years significant gains have been made to equalize gender.

7.7. SAT and ACT test determine factor for education success

8. History of Education

8.1. Reform Movement- Equality of Opportunity

8.1.1. The demand for equality has been a main feature in U.S. History.

8.1.2. After WWII, there became an issue of access to educational opportunity became an issue. The GI Bill offered millions of servicemen and women the opportunity to a higher education.

8.1.3. In the 1940's and 1950's, education and race became a problem. School segregation became a question to everyone. In the major civil rights victory Brown vs. Topeka Board of Education, the Supreme Court ruled that state-imposed segregation of schools was unconstitutional.

8.2. History Interpretation- The Democratic Liberal School

8.2.1. The goal was a combination to provide equality and excellence in the educational system.

8.2.2. The Democratic-liberal goal is to reach and incorporate more diversity throughout the school system. The goal was to balance excellence and equality without leaning towards one side or the other.

9. Politics of Education

9.1. Purposes of Education

9.1.1. Intellectual: To teach basic cognitive skills, to transmit specific knowledge, and to help students acquire higher-order thinking skills

9.1.2. Political: To instill patriotism, to prepare students to participate in political democracies, to incorporate diverse cultures into a common political order, and to teach children the basic laws of society

9.1.3. Social: To help solve social problems, ensure social cohesion, and to expose children to the process of socialization

9.1.4. Economic: To prepare students for future occupational and responsibilities

9.2. Perspective: Liberal

9.2.1. The liberal role stresses the school's role in providing the necessary education to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed in society. The school's role is to also to teach children to respect cultural diversity. It also stresses individual as well as social needs. On a political level, liberals stress the importance of citizenship and participation in a democratic society and then need for an educated citizenry.

9.2.2. Explanation of Unequal Performance Liberal Perspective: Individual students or groups of students begin school with different life chances and therefore some groups have significantly more advantages than others. Society must attempt through policies and programs to equalize the playing field so that students from disadvantaged backgrounds have a better chance.

9.2.3. Definition of Educational Problems: Liberal perspective: limited the life chances of poor and minority children, schools place too much emphasis on discipline and authority thus limiting their role in helping students develop as individuals, differences in quality and climate between urban and suburban schools, traditional curriculum leaves out the diverse cultures of the groups that comprise the pluralistic society.