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Fall 1998
Section I: Tuesday, 6:50-9:30 in Barnard 311
Section II: Wednesday, 4-6:40 in Willard 307
Instructor: Ronnie
Casella
Office: 277 Barnard
Phone: 832-2415
Office Hours: Monday 1-2, Tuesday 4-6, Thursday 2:30-4:30
- Overview of Class
In this class students will study contemporary educational
issues in the context of the societal, political and economic
forces in society that bear upon schooling in the United States.
Students will:
1. Utilize pertinent sociological, psychological, historical,
philosophical and political knowledge necessary to analyze the
school's social and educational role in a culturally and economically
diverse society.
2. Identify and clarify selected educational issues as problems
of social policy.
3. Interpret and understand educational issues in a global context
that takes into account new internationalism.
4. Gain better understanding of the process of policy-making
and school reform in addressing politically and culturally charged
issues regarding integration, the role of public schooling, funding
disparities, and school discipline and violence.
5. Examine the logic of varied and sometimes contradictory arguments
that are made regarding public schooling in the United States.
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INTASC Principles
The following INTASC Principles will receive special attention
in class:
Principle #9: The teacher is a relective practitioner who
continually evaluates the effects of his/her choices and actions
on others (students, parents, and other professionals in the
learning community) and who actively seeks out opportunities
to grow professionally.
Principle #11: The teacher has awareness of social, cultural,
economic, and political contexts of schooling and can assume
a leadership position in public and professional discourse on
educational issues.
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Class Requirements
1. Participation in class and completion of all readings
and assignments on time. 10% of grade.
2. Response paper: 2-3 page paper (typed, double-spaced) responding
to readings and class discussion. Further guidelines will be
discussed in class. 20% of grade.
3. Midterm essay: 4-5 page paper (with references, typed, double-spaced)
analyzing opposing arguments regarding education and/or public
schooling in the United States. Further guidleines will be discussed
in class. 25% of grade.
4. Presentation: Student will present (about 20 minutes) an outside
article from a current newspaper, magazine, or academic journal.
Each student must schedule his/her presentation with instructor.
Further guidelines will be discussed in class. 20% of grade.
5. Group final paper and presentation: Students will present
a literature review of a topic of their choosing and hand in
a 4-5 page paper (typed, double-spaced). 25% of grade.
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Required Texts
Spring, Joel. 1998. American Education. NY: McGraw
Hill, 8th edition.
Nelson, J., Carlson, K., Polansky, S. 1996. Critical issues
in education: A dialectic approach. NY: McGraw Hill, 3rd
edition.
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Class Schedule
|
DATE |
TOPICS |
READINGS AND ASSIGNMENTS |
| Sept. 1, 2 |
Introductions |
|
| Sept. 8,9 |
What is School for?
Historical overview of the economic, political, and social purposes
of
schooling.
Slides: History of School Architecture |
- Spring, Chapter 1
- Nelson, Chapter 1
|
| Sept. 15, 16 |
Teaching as a profession
Teacher Education |
- Spring, Chapter 2
- Nelson, Chapter 13
|
| Sept. 22, 23 |
Teacher Unions
Attempts to merge NEA and AFT
Debate: To unionize or not to unionize? |
- Spring, Chapter 3
- Nelson, Chapter 15
|
| Sept. 29, 30 |
Cultural and structural critiques
of education.
Social reproduction |
- Spring, Chapter 4
- Nelson, Chapter 2
- Due: Response paper
|
| Oct. 6, 7 |
Equal educational opportunity
Public schooling since 1954 |
- Spring, Chapter 5
- Nelson, Chapter 5
|
| Oct. 13, 14 |
Multiculturalism
Forms of multicultural instruction
Cultural literacy
Video: Cultural illiteracy. |
- Spring, Chapter 6
- Neslon Chapter 8
|
| Oct. 20, 21 |
School control (intro)
State or local control |
Spring, Chapter 8 |
| Oct. 27, 28 |
School control (conclusion)
Curriculum debates |
- Nelson, Chapters 9 and 10
- Due: Midterm essay
|
| Nov. 3, 4 |
Schooling at the national level
Testing |
- Spring, Chapter 9
- Nelson, Chapter 12
|
| Nov. 10, 11 |
Public vs. private education |
- Spring, Chapter 7
- Nelson, Chapter 11
|
| Nov. 17, 18 |
Curriculum and instruction
Radical pedagogy
Cooperative learning
Banking concept of education |
- Spring, Chapter 10
- Nelson, Chapter 7
|
| Nov. 24, 25no class |
Schooling, the courts and the law
Developments in affirmative action |
- Spring, Chapter 11
- Nelson, Chapter 6
|
| Dec. 1, 2 |
School finance and choice |
Nelson, Chapters 3 and 4 |
| Dec. 8, 9 |
School violence and discipline
School reform
Films: Lean on me and Dead Poet's
Society |
Nelson, Chapters 17 and 18 |
| Dec. 15, 16 |
Conclusion |
Nelson, Chapters 14 and 16
Due: Final papers |
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