1. The Problem of Equity: Culture, Class, and School Essential Question: What is the Role of School in Society?

2. Jonathan Kozol: Savage Inequalities and other titles.

3. Disparity in American Schools Good Schools Motivated students Bad Schools Disinterested students Parent Involvement Interesting learning Parent Absenteeism Rote learning Highly Qualified Teachers Less qualified teachers State of Art FacilitiesDilapidated Facilities

4. Race and Racism Biology – difference is normal for human species. Race and Racism are largely socially constructed phenomena. United Nations definition in text: “Any distinction, exclusion, restriction, or preference based on race…which has the effect of nullifying or impairing…human rights and fundamental freedoms….” (Breitborde & Swiniarski, p. 323).

5. Achievement Gap Quote from the New York Times for consideration. Study of Literacy and its relationship to SES – Socioeconomic status.

6. Disparate Performance Biological Explanations Cultural Expectations Voluntary and Involuntary Immigrants Political Explanations Unequal School Resources Teacher Expectations Effects Ability Grouping / Tracking

7. The Boarding School

8. Native Americans & American Education Genocide Cultural Eradication Forced Schooling BIA Pratt and Boarding Schools Forced Assimilation

9. Judicial Precedent Plessy vs. Ferguson (1896). Supreme Court Separate but Equal Legally Sanctioned De jure segregation De facto segregation

10. Brown vs. Board of Education Topeka, KS 1954 “Separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” “with all deliberate speed…” 10 years after Brown, 91% of African American children in South still attended all- black schools.

11. Civil Rights Movement 1964 Civil Rights Act Title IV – desegregation Title VI – funds linked to anti- discriminatory policies Busing remedies Detroit busing crisis (film “School”)

12. The Problematic Melting Pot Metaphor

13. The Tremendous Diversity of Experiences Hispanic Americans Mexican Americans Puerto Ricans Cuban Americans Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders Chinese Americans Filipino Americans Asian Americans Japanese Americans Southeast Asian Americans Arab Americans

14. Relevant Terms Model Minorities Affirmative Action Quotas Reverse-Discrimination Multiculturalism Diversity

15. Gender Role of Women in K-12 Schools Schools for girls Attitudes toward female students Title IX 1972 Sex-role stereotyping Gender and Culture have profound interactions within American schools

16. Culture and Language Cultural Discourses influence language Family discourses influence language SES discourses influence language “Multiple literacies” ___________________________ Immigrants, English Language Learners (ELL) and policy. Many variations, but import is clear: Educators need to understand how language is learned, and the impact of culture and class on language use and acquisition.

17. Teaching Practices -- Classroom Addresses achievement gaps Displays multicultural curriculum in non-token ways Respects cultures / community Discourages Segregation Teaches skills for full participation in society High academic expectations Teachers move to students critical pedagogy Cooperative Education: students and community Displays are culturally relevant, responsive (See Breitborde and Swiniarski, pp. 361-363).

18. The Social Role of the Schools Teachers and schools are agents of social messages, for good or ill. Critical Pedagogy is a philosophy of reflection and practice. What can educators do to promote the best society that is possible?

19. American Schools How big are our problems? Global contexts? Egalitarian Principles? Policy Directions? Funding Issues? Demographic realties?