The Educated Person Chapter 1

Five essential questions this semester Who is the educated person? Who is the educated person? What is worth knowing? What is worth knowing? What is learning? What is learning? What is good teaching? What is good teaching? What is the role of school in society? What is the role of school in society?

Who is the Educated Person? Varies across cultures and times Varies across cultures and times Schooled versus Educated Schooled versus Educated Great knowledge meant having great virtue (Plato) Great knowledge meant having great virtue (Plato) Greater concern for “good breeding” and wisdom in everyday affairs (John Locke) Greater concern for “good breeding” and wisdom in everyday affairs (John Locke) “Wide awakeness” and open to experience (Maxine Greene) “Wide awakeness” and open to experience (Maxine Greene)

What is worth knowing? Questions about curriculum, the subject matter of education Questions about curriculum, the subject matter of education Perhaps not so much what should we include…as what should we leave out? Perhaps not so much what should we include…as what should we leave out? How are learning and teaching linked? How are learning and teaching linked? The role of school in society… transmissive?, transformative?, compensatory? The role of school in society… transmissive?, transformative?, compensatory?

Guiding Principles on the Nature and Purpose of Education Education is a moral enterprise. Education is a moral enterprise. Education is a political enterprise. Education is a political enterprise. Public schools are linked to the social, cultural, and economic conditions of the societies and communities in which they find themselves. Public schools are linked to the social, cultural, and economic conditions of the societies and communities in which they find themselves. The ultimate aim of public education is the improvement of life on earth for all its people. The ultimate aim of public education is the improvement of life on earth for all its people.

Guiding Principles American schoolchildren benefit from the increasingly rich cultural and linguistic variety in their classrooms. American schoolchildren benefit from the increasingly rich cultural and linguistic variety in their classrooms. Knowledge is socially constructed. Knowledge is socially constructed. Teaching and learning are reciprocal and interdependent processes. Teaching and learning are reciprocal and interdependent processes. Teaching and learning are also independent processes. Teaching and learning are also independent processes.

Guiding Principles Teaching strategies and materials are less important to good teaching than the teacher himself/herself. Teaching strategies and materials are less important to good teaching than the teacher himself/herself. The hidden curriculum is as much, if not more, important to children’s futures as the stated, written curriculum. The hidden curriculum is as much, if not more, important to children’s futures as the stated, written curriculum. Teachers are agents of personal and social change. Teachers are agents of personal and social change. Teaching is the noblest of professions. Teaching is the noblest of professions.