1. Schools: Choices and Challenges
Chapter 9

2. The Purposes of School
To Transmit Society’s Knowledge and Values…passing on the culture
Reconstructing Society…schools as change agents

3. A Place Called School John Goodlad
Academic: a broad array of knowledge and skills
Vocational: readiness for the world of work
Social and Civic: for participating in a complex democratic society
Personal: development of individual talent and self-expression

4. Education Reform
National Commission on Excellence in Education (1983) A Nation at Risk
Most states increased course requirements, most instituted testing for student promotion and graduation, many increased qualification standards for teachers, most increased time in school, most required computer literacy

5. Three Waves of Reform
Wave 1: More courses and more testing of students and teachers. States assumed the leadership
Wave 2: Accountability, teacher empowerment
Wave 3: Comprehensive services, full service schools…responding to the multiple needs of children

6. Beyond the Neighborhood Public School
The Choice concept…schools would be more effective if they functioned in a free market
Magnet Schools…today more than a million children (video 25) “Alternative Visions”
Open enrollment (1988 in Minnesota)
Vouchers…(1990 in Milwaukee, $3,000 per student)
Charter Schools (1991 in Minnesota), now 3,000 schools in 40 states, 1% of the school population

7. Charter Schools
Allows for a new or conversion of an existing public school
Prohibits admissions tests
Is nonsectarian
Requires a demonstrable improvement in performance
Can be closed if it doesn’t meet expectations
Doesn’t need to conform to most states rules and regulations
Receives funding based on number of students (video 26) “A Tour of a Charter School”

8. For-Profit Schools
Edison Schools: lengthen the school day, increase the school year, curricular changes…more math and science, foreign language from early years, computer links to homes
Are they effective?

9. What makes Schools effective?
Strong leadership
A Clear School Mission
A Safe and Orderly Climate
Monitoring Student Progress
High Expectations
And…early start, focus on reading and math, smaller schools, smaller classes, increased learning time, assessment, teacher training, trust, technology(?)