Schools: Choices and Schools: Choices and ChallengesChallenges

Chapter 9Chapter 9

The Purposes of SchoolThe Purposes of School To Transmit Society’s Knowledge and To Transmit Society’s Knowledge and

Values…passing on the cultureValues…passing on the culture Reconstructing Society…schools as Reconstructing Society…schools as

change agentschange agents

A Place Called School A Place Called School John GoodladJohn Goodlad

Academic: a broad array of Academic: a broad array of knowledge and skillsknowledge and skills

Vocational: readiness for the world of Vocational: readiness for the world of workwork

Social and Civic: for participating in a Social and Civic: for participating in a complex democratic societycomplex democratic society

Personal: development of individual Personal: development of individual talent and self-expressiontalent and self-expression

Education ReformEducation Reform National Commission on Excellence in National Commission on Excellence in

Education (1983) Education (1983) A Nation at RiskA Nation at Risk Most states increased course Most states increased course

requirements, most instituted testing requirements, most instituted testing for student promotion and graduation, for student promotion and graduation, many increased qualification many increased qualification standards for teachers, most standards for teachers, most increased time in school, most increased time in school, most required computer literacyrequired computer literacy

Three Waves of ReformThree Waves of Reform Wave 1: More courses and more Wave 1: More courses and more

testing of students and teachers. testing of students and teachers. States assumed the leadershipStates assumed the leadership

Wave 2: Accountability, teacher Wave 2: Accountability, teacher empowermentempowerment

Wave 3: Comprehensive services, Wave 3: Comprehensive services, full service schools…responding to full service schools…responding to the multiple needs of childrenthe multiple needs of children

Beyond the Neighborhood Beyond the Neighborhood Public SchoolPublic School

The Choice concept…schools would be more The Choice concept…schools would be more effective if they functioned in a free marketeffective if they functioned in a free market

Magnet Schools…today more than a million Magnet Schools…today more than a million children (video 25) “Alternative Visions”children (video 25) “Alternative Visions”

Open enrollment (1988 in Minnesota)Open enrollment (1988 in Minnesota) Vouchers…(1990 in Milwaukee, $3,000 per Vouchers…(1990 in Milwaukee, $3,000 per

student)student) Charter Schools (1991 in Minnesota), now Charter Schools (1991 in Minnesota), now

3,000 schools in 40 states, 1% of the school 3,000 schools in 40 states, 1% of the school populationpopulation

Charter SchoolsCharter Schools Allows for a new or conversion of an existing Allows for a new or conversion of an existing

public schoolpublic school Prohibits admissions testsProhibits admissions tests Is nonsectarianIs nonsectarian Requires a demonstrable improvement in Requires a demonstrable improvement in

performanceperformance Can be closed if it doesn’t meet expectationsCan be closed if it doesn’t meet expectations Doesn’t need to conform to most states rules Doesn’t need to conform to most states rules

and regulationsand regulations Receives funding based on number of Receives funding based on number of

students (video 26) “A Tour of a Charter students (video 26) “A Tour of a Charter School”School”

For-Profit SchoolsFor-Profit Schools Edison Schools: lengthen the school Edison Schools: lengthen the school

day, increase the school year, day, increase the school year, curricular changes…more math and curricular changes…more math and science, foreign language from early science, foreign language from early years, computer links to homesyears, computer links to homes

Are they effective?Are they effective?

What makes Schools What makes Schools effective?effective?

Strong leadershipStrong leadership A Clear School MissionA Clear School Mission A Safe and Orderly ClimateA Safe and Orderly Climate Monitoring Student ProgressMonitoring Student Progress High ExpectationsHigh Expectations And…early start, focus on reading and And…early start, focus on reading and

math, smaller schools, smaller classes, math, smaller schools, smaller classes, increased learning time, assessment, increased learning time, assessment, teacher training, trust, technology(?)teacher training, trust, technology(?)