My Foundations of Education

1. Sociological Perspectives Chapter 4

1.1. Functionalism: examine society in terms of how it is maintained for the common good

1.2. Conflict theory seeks to maintain social inequality and maintain the power of the people who rule society

1.3. In the interactionalism thoery, people believe that education produces social inequality through the use of tracking and standardized testing. (Labels that children obtain).

1.4. Top 5 Effects:

1.4.1. 1. Employment- I believe that students are encouraged through schooling to seek employment and excel in their career.

1.4.2. 2. Student peer groups- children learn social skills and how to maintain positive friendships.

1.4.3. 3. Tracking- children are placed into groups with labels based on medical history, academic performance, and behavioral status. This leads to children either feeling superior or inferior.

1.4.4. 4. De Facto Segregation- children who are at schools that are multi-racial tend to be more successful with less issues such as being arrested, unwanted pregnancies, and lower dropout rates.

1.4.5. 5. Gender- women and men have been taught for many years that they are better at certain subjects and therefore certain jobs, which limits the dreams that people have.

2. Philosophy of Education Chapter 5

2.1. Existentialism: the belief that each individual is completely in control of his/her own actions and has total free will

2.1.1. Generic notions: people create themselves and can change along the way

2.1.2. Goal of education: individuality is stressed and anxieties are addressed more promptly with soutions

2.1.3. Role of the teacher: teachers are very self-aware and aware of their students and their students needs. Teachers are responsible for helping students become better versions of themselves.

2.1.4. Methods of instruction: Teaching is personal and cooperative. Teacher and student are friends.

2.1.5. Curriculum: Humanities are emphasized heavily.

3. Schools as Organizations Chapter 6

3.1. Schools as organizations

3.1.1. Federal senators: Richard Shelby and Doug Jones

3.1.2. House of Representative for Madison and Limestone county: Phil Williams

3.1.3. State Senator: Paul Sanford

3.1.4. State superintendent: Michael Sentance

3.1.5. representative on state school board:Kay Ivey,Stephanie Bell, Cynthia McCarty

3.1.6. District superintendent: Matt Akin

3.1.7. Members on local school board: Elisa Ferrel, Walker McGinnis, Beth Wilder, Michelle Watkins, Pam Hill

3.2. Elements of change in schools processes and culture: 1. conflict, 2. new behaviors must be learned, 3. team building in all aspects of the school, 4. process and content are working together toward the same goal. Making a school centered around the learner takes time, effort, thought, planning, and a desire to help.

4. Equality of Opportunity Chapter 8

4.1. Race, class, and gender all affect educational outcomes. Families with more money typically live in neighborhoods with better schools which leads to a better education for their children. Race is a factor into educational outcomes because minorities are still threatened in a lot of ways. Black males have the highest dropout rates in America. White students have better SAT scores as a whole, which leads to better colleges and more scholarships. White men have had the upper hand, historically. This still holds true in many contexts today. White women, let alone women of color, are still treated unequally in the educational and occupational field.

4.2. The two responses to the Coleman Study in 1982 were opposing. One study concluded that for low-income students, the private schools were better suited for achieving success. The other study disagreed with Coleman and stated that there was not a real significant difference in Catholic private schools and public schools.

5. Educational Reform Chapter 10

5.1. The school to work reform is intended to give students who are on a career vs. college path the opportuities to be successful on that path. INstead of pushing all of the students toward college, they are encouraged to learn real work experiences through work based learning and connecting activities that provide insight from the classroom to apply to a future job..

5.2. School-business partnerships are intended to boost the company's business through advertising and marketing within the school and community, while benefiting the school financially through donations. This has not proved anymore successful than a traditional, government-funded school.

5.3. An example of community reform are the schools that are labeled as "full service and community schools". The goal of these schools is to provide more than what a typical school provides. These schools seek to be a community gathering and improvement place. Programs such as adult classes and ESL classes are typical.

5.4. An example of a financial reform is that many cases have been brought to the states through court cases. The court cases all have in common that they are seeking equity, not just equality, within the schools. Many schools receive different funding and therefore have different academic success levels. The argument is that if schools were equipped properly, based on the student populations's needs, then the students would prove to be more successful.

6. Politics of Education Chapter 2

6.1. Four Purposes of Education:

6.2. 1. Intellectual purposes

6.3. 2. Political purposes

6.4. 3. Social purposes

6.5. 4. Economic purposes

6.6. The role of the school is to teach knowledge, cultural norms, and socialization.

6.7. Unequal performance is due to differences in home life/parental involvement, economic status, and school environment.

6.8. Educational problems are viewed differently by conservatives, liberals, and radicals. Conservatives are concerned with the preservation of Western culture and high standards. Liberals are concerned with women's rights, lower class, and equality. Radicals see the system as racist and sexist.

7. History of US Education Chapter 3

7.1. Desegregation in schools is the movement that has had the greatest impact on the public school system. As a system we strive for equality and equity, rather than separate but equal. Uniting people makes our country stronger and positively influences the generations to come.

7.2. The democratic-liberal school is a system that seeks to provide the same opportunities for all children, no matter the race, economic background, or religious background.

8. Curriculum and Pedagogy Chapter 7

8.1. I advocate the humanistic theory. I believe that the most influential teachers are the ones who care deeply for their students. I appreciate that the theory encourages the teachers to promote self esteem within the students. I believe that implementing a variety of things the students enjoy, going at your own pace, and allowing some freedom with the students are all great marks of the humanistic approach.

8.2. The two dominant traditions of teaching are mimetic and transformative. Mimetic teaching is flexible, engaging, and allows the students to think creatively. Transformative teaching is a way of teaching in which the teacher encourages students growth and also grows herself.

9. Educational Inequality Chapter 9

9.1. A cultural difference theory is that working-class and non-white students resist the dominant culture of schools. Schools seem to demand middle-class values from non-middle class students and this poses a barrier between schools and students.

9.2. Another cultural difference theory is that working-class and non-white families lack the resources needed for their children to succeed. When the students arrive at school the first day they are already at a disadvantage because they are not equipped properly. This could mean they were not fed breakfast and therefore cannot focus on learning or do not have paper and pencils.

9.3. School centered explanations for inequalities in education: 1. schools not having very much funding, resulting in teachers that are not as well seasoned and are not as equipped with materials. 2. students being grouped based on test scores, reading levels. and gifted/special education impact the paths that most studnets wwill take. 3. women and men are treated unequally within schools. Schools leave out important women's history and reinforce gender stereotype. 4. curriculum and pedagogic practices vary between schools. At a very expensive, private school the academics will be much richer and the environment will be more strict and competitive, whereas, at a school with low test scores and low funds the students will receive more remedial education.