Place of Schools in Society

Understand generally accepted roles of schools and how they contribute to the socialization of children and youth. Describe culture, its characteristics, and its impact in schools. Discuss characteristics of school culture that contribute to effective schools that support student learning. Describe the school choices available to parents in a growing number of larger school districts. Identify some of the differences between rural, suburban, and urban schools and their impact on students. Identify some of the characteristics of effective schools in which students learn at high levels.

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Primarily support democratic equality, social efficiency, or social mobility? Expose students to a liberal arts education and teach them to be productive citizens in a democracy? Serve the private sector by preparing students for future jobs? Be an asset that can be accumulated and used for social competition (“Social mobility”)?

How should we define “good citizens?” What does your book say? Page Hidden Curriculum – The implicit values and expectations that teachers and schools convey about what is important for students to learn.

Are we preparing students for jobs in a global economy? A Nation At Risk expressed concern that we are not. Business owners want students to have: Basic skills Vocational skills Dispositions and values What is the real goal of schools? Is it to ensure students have the knowledge and skills to keep the economy competitive? Is it to help students learn a trade, learn how to learn, or learn how to take orders and follow the rules? What do you think?

When the scores of U.S. students fall below those of students in other countries, parents and policy makers demand changes. Back-to-basics – No frills Longer school day Standards-based Higher expectations of ALL students AYP – Adequate Yearly Progress

Not a course Constant reinforcement Classroom and playground Cooperative Learning

Culture – Socially transmitted ways of thinking, believing, feeling, and acting within a group of people that are passed from one generation to the next. Common culture??? The challenge for educators is to transmit the common culture while including the richness and contributions of many who are not yet accepted as an integral part of that culture.

Language, traditions, diet, dress, interaction, and learning

History – middle class, white, Protestant Characteristics Universal education Literacy Technology Achievement and success Accumulation of material goods Individualism Freedom

Ethnicity – A shared national origin or the national origin of one’s ancestors when they immigrated to the U.S. Traditions, language, and behaviors Know more about students’ cultures Be careful about stereotyping

Should all students be expected to learn the common heritage? Should all students be expected to adopt the common culture as their own? Values – principles, standards Cultural Differences White Teacher Perspective Read and discuss Teacher Perspectives p. 146

Leading School Culture Provides meaning for students and teachers Traditions and rituals History Reputations Safe or dangerous Academic, good at sports Some students fit in to the culture, some do not.

Businesses Chamber of commerce Charitable organizations Churches Civic groups Local Government Local Media Senior Citizens

1930s – 1950s --- Behaviorist orientation Later, Piaget --- Developmental approach Qualifications for teachers has increased Montessori Montessori Education for Early Childhood Head Start

First – 1848 – Boston Quincy School – 56 students Now students Looping

G. Stanley Hall – We need middle level 6,000 junior high schools in 1960s – 632 in 2001 Usually focus on academic achievement that is provided in a positive and nurturing climate. Collaboration and cooperative learning Team teaching Block Scheduling

1821 – Boston Grew during Great Depression – many states raised compulsory age Urban schools – less than ½ of African American and Hispanic students are finishing in 4 years Reforms – Bill Gates

21% of population – less than 2500 residents Children travel long distances to school Conservative Values Workers ¾ pay than in urban areas Poverty Schools are smaller and lower student-teacher ratio Schools face real difficulties Qualified teachers Not all courses available Teacher Isolation Lace of diversity

½ of U.S. population Diverse 31% live in poverty Funding for schools is better 40% of high schools have 900 or more students Students outperform rural and urban students

Educational and Entertainment resources ½ world’s population 1/5 students has at least one foreign-born parent Diverse population Upper middle-class – more parent involvement Low income parents lack cultural capital – the knowledge and ideas required to maintain or gain status and power in society. Mayor take-over – NYC and DC

Effective Teachers make a DIFFERENCE!!! NCLB Standards-Based Curriculum – coursework that is based on explicit outcomes of what students should know and be able to do in a subject at a specific grade level as identified in standards. Performance-based assessment – comprehensive assessment system School Culture What do you think?