Chapter 12: Education

Section 1 Bureaucracy in Education: Early 1900s – Educators believed that kids could and should be educated the same way that cars were mass produced Purpose of Standardization Professional educators are specialists 65 million students in public education Most are placed with similar ability levels in the same classroom and 1 lesson plan works for the majority of the students

Formal Schooling – education that is provided and regulated by society

1960s – open classroom, cooperative learning, integrative curriculum Humanists wanted the elimination of restrictive rules and codes as well as to create a democratic learning environment

Open Classroom – 1960s and again in 1990s Democratic relationships & flexibility Abandons use of grade cards based on comparison of student performance

Cooperative Learning - Students study in groups with teachers as guides instead of controlling agents Students learn best when active and work as a team Cooperation replaces competition Benefits are that it reduces stress, academic performance increases, students have more positive attitudes toward school, racism decreases, and self-esteem increases

Integrative Curriculum - Students and Teachers collaborate to create curriculum Real-world concepts and hands-on experience Various types of intelligences

Back to Basics Movement Due to Low Test Scores and being overtaken by global competitors, this movement occurs. Teach basic skills – reading and math Increase graduation requirements, school day, and school year Standardized Tests High school students are given more homework Discipline is tightened and enforce a code of conduct

Alternatives to Public School System Creates competition and student choice Government Vouchers – amount spent/child in public education

Alternatives Cont. PROS: Public schools have to compete for kids, which will improve services Kids can move if not happy CONS: No higher test scores Drain needed funds for public schools Can result in racial and class segregation

Types of Alternatives Magnet – specialized schools for the arts and sciences. Typically promotes de-segregation and enhanced school quality High levels of academic achievement Criticized for taking the best students away

Types Charter – publicly funded schools that operate like private schools No school board and they shape their own curriculum and utilize nontraditional methods Critics say: drain money from public schools, questionable quality, mixed success, and typically do not perform better

Types For-Profit – supported by governmental funds but ran by private companies Only the best schools will survive Critics say: shouldn’t mix profit and public service; voters lose power; may skimp on equipment, services, and training

What are your thoughts about online High School?

Section 2 Manifest Function – academic skills and.. 1) Transmit Culture – manage knowledge to pass on to the next generation and maintain order by teaching values and standards 2) Creating a Common Identity – homogeneous values, norms, beliefs, and attitudes

Debate: Bilingual education PROS: Keep up with peers, so they don’t fall behind Honor Cultural Diversity CONS: Hinders Development of Common American Identity Has not been proven to help academically

3) Selecting and Screening Students – intelligence and achievement (standardized) tests for over 50 years, track students, identify talents and aptitudes, and help predict careers

4) Promoting Personal Growth and Development – Expose students to many experiences as well as develops creativity, verbal skills, artistic expression, intellectual accomplishment and cultural tolerance. Prepares students for a world of work and computer skills.

Latent Functions Unintended and unrecognized result Functions: Daycare facilities Vote for taxes to find friends and dates Prevent delinquency by keeping kids indoor Training grounds for athletes

Section 3: Conflict Perspective Meritocracy – social status based on ability and achievement instead of social class and parent’s background -In theory, everyone has an equal chance - Based on competition (social process that occurs when rewards are given to people on the basis of how their performance compares with the performance of others doing the same task)

American Meritocracy Race, class, gender, ethnicity are barriers of true merit-based achievement Wealthier schools do better and get higher-paying jobs Students in poorer schools are not as prepared when applying for jobs (values, manners, dress, language)

College Entrance Exams Minorities score lower SAT created in 1926 to identify talented youth regardless of background

Equality and Inequality in Education Social class and ethnicity heavily influence student placement in various tracks. Cognitive ability – intelligence and ability to think abstractly

Social Darwinists – intelligence differences are based on genetics Critics: it is not nature v. nurture, but genetics v. environment

Environmental factors affect performance on tests: City dwellers do better than rural dwellers Do better as we age Cultural Bias – wording more familiar to dominant group Score better when tested by adult members of own race or income group Nutrition is a performance factor

Promoting Educational Equality School Desegregation – racial balance in classroom works if there is an atmosphere of respect and acceptance established Minorities in desegregated schools get better jobs and higher income

Multicultural Education – Emphasizes differences among gender, ethnicity, and race Can increase minority attendance Could promote divisions

Compensatory Education - Specific Curricular programs designed to overcome a deficiency Example: Federal funds given to Head Start, which as been proven to work

No Child Left Behind - Passed in 2001 by Congress Greater involvement in Education by the federal government Annual standardized tests Meet level of proficiency or face consequences Critics: teaching to the test, want to reduce testing, and in 2011 49% failed to make “adequate yearly progress”

Today – Race to the Top and Common Core Standards

Section 4: Symbolic Interactionism How schools transmit culture through socialization Hidden Curriculum – norms, values, discipline, order, cooperativeness, conformity, patriotism Examples at THS?

Textbooks – convey values and beliefs as much by what they omit as by what they include Until 1980s: Men are shown as challenging and aggressive activities Women are shown as homemakers, secretaries or passive activities Men appeared more often Minority groups rarely presented and if presented, it was a negative context Today: more balanced picture

Teachers affect Student’s Performance Pygmalion Effect – some students perform better than others simply because they are expected to do so What else might this be called?

Sexism in Education Unconsciously transmit sexist expectations Boys are more likely to: Receive more attention, be praised, be talkative, call out in class, be called on, demand help or attention Girls are more likely to: Do better in single-gender schools and classes, higher self-esteem, better grades, learn more, more positive about learning environment, move onto advanced courses

ANY QUESTIONS?