1. 2. Choose and describe one historical interpretation of U.S. Education.
1.1. A. Conservative Perspectives
1.1.1. 1) U.S. students knew very little and that U.S. schools were mediocre
1.1.2. 2) Conservative critics like Bennett, Finn, Jr., Ravitch,, Hirsch, Jr., and Bloom all pointed to the failure of so=called progressive education to fulfill its lofty social goals without sacrificing academic quality.
1.1.3. 3) Ravitch and Hirsch supported the democratic-liberal goal of equality of opportunity and mobility through education but believed that the historical pursuit of social and political objectives resulted in significant harm to traditional academic goals of schooling.
1.1.4. 4) Ravitch's argument that the preoccupation with using education to solve social problems has not worked in his book "The Troubled Crusade" he believes that it has simultaneously led to erosion of educational excellence.
1.1.5. 5) Ravitch believes the curriculum ought to be fair and nonracist she also argues that multiculturalism are often historically incorrect and the fact the heritage of our civilization is Western.
1.1.6. 6) Ravitch understands the conflictual nature of the U.S. history and praises the schools for being part of a large-scale social improvement while damning them for losing their academic standards in the process.
1.1.7. 7) Hirsch blames the schools for valuing skills over content.
1.1.8. 8) Bennett called for a traditional Western curriculum
1.1.9. 9) All of these conservatives have one thing in common and that is the vision that U.S. Education has resulted in the dilution of academic excellence.
2. 1. Choose and Describe a reform movement that you think has had the most influence on education
2.1. 1. The Rise of the Common School
2.1.1. A. Happened during the period of 1820 to 1860- changes took place with unprecedented speed
2.1.2. B. Tried to address societal problems as slavery, mental illness, intemperance, and pacifism thus believing that the road to secular paradise was through education.
2.1.3. C. By 1820 it was noted that the schools were not functioning properly and the vast majority of Americans were not surprisingly illiterate.
2.1.4. D. Horace Mann of Massachusetts led the struggle for free public education. Massachusetts legislature created the first board of education it in 1837, Horace Mann became its first secretary an office he held for 11 years.
2.1.5. E. Many school boards have been modeled after the one that Horace Mann served in for years.
2.1.6. F. First state normal school or teacher training school was established in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1839.
2.1.7. G. These schools were established for stability and order and the concern for social mobility.
2.1.8. H. Even during this time frame Mann was faced with multi cultural differences through the migration of individuals from all over. he used this as an opportunity to get support from the wealthy through touting that the school was preparation for citizenship as well as the "balance wheel --the great equalizer of men."
2.1.9. I. Many liberals and conservatives view Mann as a great educator of man but radicals take issue with it pointing to schools as a pernicious device for teaching skills like hygiene, punctuality and rudimentary skills that would create docile workers.
2.1.10. J. Regardless of what people think we can't discount the fact that this was the start of reform and a movement toward building our public school systems.