1. Politics of Education
1.1. Conservative
1.2. Liberal
1.3. Radical
1.3.1. Democratic socialism is a fairer political-economic system
1.3.2. Based on writings of political economist & philosopher Karl Marx.
1.3.3. Capitalist system produces fundamental contradictions that ultimately will lead to transformation into socialism
1.3.4. Central contradiction pointed out by radicals is between accumulations of laws of capitalism and the general social welfare of the public
1.3.5. Radicals assert that U.S. society has the productive capacity to ensure a minimally acceptable standard of living, including food, shelter, and healthcare for all its citizens
1.3.6. Radicals believe that the capitalist system is central to U.S. social problems
1.4. Neo-liberal
1.5. Vision of Ed - Progressivism
1.5.1. Movement began in late nineteenth century: John Dewey: 1880-1904 & Maria Montessori
1.5.2. Emphasis on learning by doing - hands on projects.
1.5.3. Strong emphasis on problem solving & critical thinking
1.5.4. Understanding and action as the goals of learning as opposed to rote knowledge
1.5.5. Education for social responsibility and democracy
1.5.6. Emphasis on lifelong learning and social skills
1.5.7. "Skepticism: the mark and even the pose of the educated mind." John Dewey
2. History of U.S. Education
2.1. The Colonial Era
2.2. Rise of the Common School 1820-1860
2.3. The Post World War II Equity Era: 1945-1980
2.3.1. Cycles of Reform: Progressive & Traditional
2.3.1.1. Progressive: Civil Rights Movement
2.3.1.1.1. Equity Issues
2.3.1.1.2. 1950s & 1960s: inequities of segregation were publized.
2.3.1.1.3. 1954: Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education unanimously declared that seperate facilities were inherently unequal and unconstitutional.
2.3.1.1.4. 1957: integration of Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas, had to be enforced by federal troops.
2.3.1.1.5. Technical equality in education was achieved by 1970, but full equality and parity in education is still to be achieved.
2.3.1.2. "New Progressivism"
2.3.1.2.1. Linked failure of schools to problems in society: Anti-war Movement, Criticism of U.S. Society, Poverty & Racial Minorities
2.3.1.2.2. May 4, 1970: Four students at Kent State University, protesting the U.S. invasion of Cambodia, were killed by the Ohio National Guard.
2.3.1.2.3. 1960s and early 70s: variety of books provided scathing criticism of U.S. Education
2.3.1.2.4. Emphasis on individualism and relevant education, and the challenge to the unquestioned authority of the teacher
2.3.1.2.5. Result: alternative, free (open) education - schooling that once again shifted attention away from knowledge (product) to process.
2.3.1.2.6. Despite the cycles of debate & reform, most secondary teachers still lectured more than they involved students.
2.3.1.2.7. Time marked by two processes: 1. challenge to traditional schooling and 2. attempt to provide educational opportunity for the disadvantaged.