1. The Challenge of Teaching in a Changing Society Chapter 2

2. America’s Challenges A changing population The changing family
The changing nature of
childhood and youth
The changing school

3. A Changing Population 1999 White 71.9% Black 12.1% Hispanic 11.5%
Asian/Other 4.5%
2025
White %
Black %
Hispanic %
Asian/Other 7%

4. A Changing Population % of Whites will decline
Hispanics will outnumber African-Americans
% of Asian/others will dramatically increase

5. A Changing Population 1/3 of Americans will be minorities
% of children in population will decrease from 26% to 24%
Percentage of those over 55 will increase

6. Implications for a Changing Population cont.
Teachers must educate a more ethnically and racially diverse population.
Teachers will have an increased ESL population (1 in 5 will be an immigrant household).
Teaching jobs will be in urban areas.
Teachers will need to bridge gaps between seniors and children for schools.

7. The Changing Family
Women are bearing fewer children (so children have fewer siblings).
Parents tend to be older, as adults marry later.
Family styles are changing

8. Family Styles are Changing
Both parents are working
50% divorce rate (1/4 of America’s children live in a single-parent household)
Less focus on traditional family obligations
In some cases, grandparents are becoming primary caregivers

9. Divorce
¼ of American children live in single-parent households (mostly headed by a female)
Single families headed by women, especially African-American women, are more likely to be poor
2/5 White & 3/5 African Am. children will experience a second divorce
30-40% of all marriages are remarriages, resulting in many blended families

10. Children of Divorce Reduced achievement Reduced school completion
Increase in early sexual activity, child bearing, and marriage

11. Implications for Schools
Some say that the transformed American family is largely unprepared to meet the challenges of raising a child and therefore will call upon government health care institutions, schools, and voluntary organizations to help.

12. Family Influence on Schooling
Presence of parents at key times (before & after school) is associated with less negative adolescent behavior.
Children from higher-SES families are more likely to do better in school.
Parent attention, understanding, and love are associated will less early sex, smoking, or substance abuse.

13. Family Influence (Stats from One Study)
High % of high achievers came from 2-parent families
Single-parent households:
Disproportionate % of elem. children were tardy
Large % created discipline problems
K-12 children suspended twice as much
40% of school dropouts
100% of those expelled

14. At-Risk Predictors Health problems at birth
Parents without secondary education
Family histories of alcoholism or mental illness

15. Success Predictors Two-parent families
Healthy family culture with a good work ethic

16. How Parents Can Help Children Succeed in School
Hold high parental expectations
Reinforce education by encouraging reading, showing care about school life, finding study area at home
Need strong, ongoing support from schools and teachers
Formal parent involvement programs

17. 7 Steps to Good Teacher- Family Partnerships
Make partnerships a priority
Plan for the partnership
Provide parents with regular, positive communication
Find ways to communicate positive messages
Provide personalized messages through home-school journals
Provide parents with practical suggestions
Reflect on partnership plan and fine-tune it

18. Changing Nature of Childhood
Economically disadvantaged children
Children with inadequate supervision
Abused and neglected children
At-risk children
Hurried children
Disengaged children

19. Changing Nature of Childhood and Youth
Economically Disadvantaged Children
Disproportionate number are minority
Receive less medical and dental care
Live in substandard housing
Wear cast-off and torn clothing
Lack affordable day care
Have fewer educational resources
Move frequently
All factors interfere with good school performance

20. Children with Inadequate Supervision
Babies in daycare may eventually have insecure relationships
At risk for increased illness
Latchkey children:
Twice as likely to be under stress
Call themselves risk-takers
Have conflict with parents
Indicate parents are gone too much
Are afraid alone
Twice as likely to drink, smoke, and use drugs
Seek refuge in libraries

21. Abused and Neglected Children
Two million children each year
Defined as physical or mental injury, sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare
All states have laws requiring teachers to report suspect cases

22. At-Risk Children Many live in a single-parent home
Unsupervised for long periods
Low income
Parents have low level of education
May have limited English proficiency

23. At-Risk Children cont. May have siblings who are dropouts
Perform poorly in school
May repeat a grade
Do not expect to graduate

24. At-Risk Children cont. Can often be successful if: They are resilient
Had easy temperaments as infants
Have a nurturing adult in their lives
Have a good reading ability by grade four

25. Abused or Neglected Children
Appear different from others in physical or emotional makeup
Parents describe them as bad or different
Child is afraid of parents
May have bruises, welts,
or sores
Given inadequate food/medications
Receive inadequate supervision
Chronically unclean
Exhibit extreme behavior
Wary of physical contact with adults
Exhibit a sudden change in behavior
Have an undiagnosed learning problem
Habitually truant and tardy
Tired
Chronically tired
Dressed inappropriately to cover wounds

26. Hurried Children Children who are rushed through childhood Factors
Television
Working parents
Growing materialism

27. Disengaged Children Bored and just going through the motions in school
Factors
Negative influence of friends
Substance abuse
Signs
Reading material unrelated to class
Daydreaming
Talking with peers
Doing work for other classes

28. The Changing School Challenge 1: Foster equality
Challenge 2: Achieve World-class
academic standards
Challenge 3: Support families
Challenge 4: Celebrate diversity
Challenge 5: Utilize technology