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Schools: Choices and Challenges. Chapter 9. The Purposes of School. To Transmit Society’s Knowledge and Values…passing on the culture Reconstructing Society…schools as change agents. A Place Called School John Goodlad. Academic: a broad array of knowledge and skills
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Schools: Choices and Challenges Chapter 9
The Purposes of School • To Transmit Society’s Knowledge and Values…passing on the culture • Reconstructing Society…schools as change agents
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
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
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
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
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”
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?
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(?)