The School as a social institution Schools are meant to preserve and extend social order.
Type of Schools (p. 170) Public Schools Private Schools
Organization of Public Schooling in the United States
Public Schools Kindergarten (K) Elementary School (K1-6 0r K1-8) – Primary (K-2) – Intermediate (3-6) Middle School (5-8) Secondary Schools – Junior High School (7-8 or 7-9) – High School (7-12, 9-12, or 10-12)
Public Schools (cont.) Post-Secondary Schools – Community Colleges – State Colleges – State Universities
Public Alternate Schools An alternate school is any school operating within the public school system and has programs addressing the specific needs or interests of targeted student groups. – Some alternate schools are self- contained structures; others are organized as schools within schools (see figure 5.1 (p.170).
Public Alternate Schools (cont.) Head Start Prekindergarten Programs Laboratory Schools Nongraded Schools Magnet Schools Charter Schools Accelerated Schools Cluster Schools Vocational-Technical schools
Public Alternate Schools (cont.) Professional development Schools Government-Run Schools – Department of Defense Dependents Schools – Native American Schools – Career Academies – Job Corps Home Schooling
Private Schools Nursery Schools & Preschools “Concept School” Alternatives – Montessori Schools – Waldorf Schools – Steiner Schools “Ethnic School” Alternatives – Afrocentric Schools (Black Academies) – Reservation Schools
Private Schools (cont.) Parochial/Religious Schools – Catholic Schools – Christian Academies – Hebrew Schools – Islamic Schools
Private Schools (cont.) College Preparatory Schools Trade Schools Military Academies Junior Colleges Colleges and Universities Adult Education Centers
GROUP WORK To Track or Not to Track: That is the Question. List arguments against supporting and opposing tracking in schools.
Considering School policy: School Choice A state legislature is holding hearings about proposed legislation on school choice. They are considering several options:
GROUP WORK
Choose one of the following positions 1. Parents would continue to send their children to the neighborhood public school in their school district or send their children to a private school at their expense. 2. Parents would be able to choose the schools their children attend within their public school district or being limited to neighborhood schools.
3. Parents would be able to choose the schools their children attend in any public school district and would be provided vouchers to do so. 4. Parents would be able to choose to send their children to any public or private school and would be provided vouchers to do so. 5. Parents would be able to choose to send their children to a private school and would receive a tuition tax credit.
6. We do not support any of these positions. We have our own position (State your position and discuss why you support it).
Use the guideline below for your discussion. What are the arguments in support of your position? What are the arguments against your position? Why do you support your position?