My Foundation of Education
af Colby Adams
1. Education- a broad term that refers to acquiring knowledge through many different avenues Schooling- the formal education of elementary, secondary, and higher forms of learning
2. History of U.S. Education
2.1. Colonial Era- Education for the Upper-class
2.2. Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)- allowed segregation in schools
2.3. Brown v. The Topeka Board of Education (1954)- separate but equal schools is unconstitutional, ended school segregation
2.4. Public Education- Education for All
2.5. Traditional Classrooms
2.6. The US is getting passed by many countries in education.
2.7. Progressive Movement
3. Problems in Education
3.1. Lack of Funding
3.2. Loving the Hard to Love
3.3. Inequality in Education
3.4. Achievement Gap- The US is falling behind other countries in education.
3.5. Over-crowded schools
3.6. Decline in Literacy
4. Politics of Education
4.1. Equality for all
4.2. Equality or Sameness
4.3. Too Much Emphasis on Political Correctness in the Classroom
4.4. Who has the power?
4.4.1. Government
4.4.2. Textbook companies
4.5. Perspectives for understanding and solving educational problems.
4.5.1. The Conservative Perspective
4.5.2. The Liberal Perspective
4.5.3. The Radical Perspective
4.5.4. The Neo-liberal Perspective
5. Equality of Opportunity
5.1. Budget- school systems have different budgets
5.2. Resources- because of different budgets, schools also have different amounts of resources
5.3. Is every student given equal opportunities to have their needs met?
5.4. School Choice is an Issue
5.5. Class, race, religion, and gender still play big roles in the equality of each student.
5.6. Private school students typically outperform public school students, but most people cannot afford a private school education.
6. Philosophy of Education
6.1. Each teacher has a philosophy that shapes the way they function in the classroom.
6.2. Realism
6.3. Progressivism
6.3.1. Student-centered
6.4. Blended Approach
6.4.1. Traditional and progressive
6.5. Depends on Maturity
6.6. Lectures, group assignments, individual assignments, and tests
6.7. Keep students engaged and interested
6.8. Teachers should be role models
6.9. Purposes of schooling
6.9.1. Intellectual
6.9.2. Political
6.9.3. Social
6.9.4. Economic
7. Curriculum & Pedagogy
7.1. Who determines the curriculum and what is taught?
7.2. Does the material reflect the majority belief?
7.3. Evolutionism or Creationism
7.4. Student-centered or Teacher-centered
7.5. Core Subjects
7.6. Special Interests
7.7. Lectures, group assignments, individual assignments, and tests
7.8. Depends on Maturity
8. Sociological Perspectives
8.1. Conflict Theories- dominant groups have the ability to impose their will on groups with less power.
8.2. Student achievement is affected by their environment, but it can be overcome by hard work.
8.3. Karl Marxx wrote about the struggle between different social classes.
8.4. What is the relationship between schools and society?
8.5. Upper class children have a greater advantage, and children in poverty are much more at risk of failing.
8.6. Suburban and private school students get better educations.
8.7. Teacher expectations directly influence student achievement.
8.8. Curriculum is influenced by those who want to impose certain beliefs and values.
9. Schools as Organizations
9.1. Each state is responsible for education. The U.S. Dept. of Education has little power.
9.2. Public schools are open to all, very inclusive.
9.3. Centralization of schools
9.4. A classroom must have control to be an effective learning environment.
9.5. Out-of-field teaching is when a teacher is teaching a subject that they are not highly qualified in.
9.6. Schools are separate social organizations because they have: 1. A definitive population 2. A political structure 3. Many social groups 4. A "we feeling" 5. Their own special culture.
10. Educational Inequality
10.1. Interactionists believe that the success of the student is determined by a combination of factors such as family, social class, schools and environment.
10.2. Coleman Report- within-school differences rather than between-school differences
10.3. Why are some students more successful in the classroom?
10.4. Social and Cultural Factors
10.5. Functional differences
10.6. Nature vs. Nurture- genetics and the way a student is raised effects how successful a child is in the classroom.
10.7. Different social classes and races come from different cultures and backgrounds.
11. Educational Reform
11.1. The report, A Nation at Risk, sparked a school reformation that lasted from 1985 to the 2000s.
11.2. Federal involvement (i.e. Goals, NCLB, Race to the Top)
11.3. Neoliberal approach- schools must be reformed
11.4. Societal and community approach- school reformation is insufficient; societies and communities must be reformed.
11.5. Charter schools are on the horizon.
11.6. Experienced and qualified teachers, classroom climate, and school context are major factors in the quality of a school.
12. Legal Issues in Education
12.1. Teacher Negligence of Duty
12.1.1. Contributory Negligence
12.1.2. Comparative Negligence
12.1.3. Assumption of Risk