11 5 15 Chapter 12 Education and School A What Makes American Education Unique a Very diverse b No federal educational policy unlike other countries c Secondary education is not related to careers i In Europe they have classes that are geared toward your future career d Drop out rate is higher in U S than in other Western cultures Before No Child Left Behind we were one of the only countries to not have a national education system Minority parents are more likely to encourage their children to strive for high paying i This is when Russia sent someone to space sparked competitiveness in U S because B History of American Schools a 1800s school was for wealthy liberal arts focus b 1890 laws about mandatory attendance i This was because of child labor laws c 1920s Americanize immigrants d 1950s preparation for work and life well rounded citizen careers e 1950s sputnik science education of the rivalry f 1970s Vietnam civil rights i If a male failed school he was sent to war g 1980s achievement scores i Comparison with Japan and their achievement scores h 1990s back to basics i Reading writing arithmetic i 2000s No Child Left Behind C Trends in U S Education a Traditionalists vs Progressives b Traditionalists argue that the purpose of education is to teach the basics c Progressives argue the purpose of education is to prepare the students for life D Alternative Forms of Education a Magnet schools i Have specific focus in one area ii Themed school b Charter schools i Public schools that also take characteristics of private schools can do things their own way make up their own rules ii Hybrid iii Controversy because they still receive public dollars c Vouchers d Tech prep schools e Open enrollment i Government money that subsidizes private school education i Focus more on those not going to college i Means you can go to any public school in the district ii Parents who value education will take advantage of open enrollment f Home schooling i Originated from Christian conservatives E No Child Left Behind Act a Passed in 2001 b Schools rewarded or punished based on test scores c Local control increased because you can do different things to achieve those test scores and in terms of testing FCAT vs other tests d Expanded options i Those in F schools can choose to go to a non failing school e Specific teaching methods promoted Why did it start o Failing rates o It was about accountability if parents are paying money for their kids to be educated then they need to be educated Issues with No Child Left Behind o Teachers are teaching to the test o No history is taught o Teachers salaries are connected to the amount that the students improve o Not teaching children to think critically o Research shows gap has gotten bigger between minority children and Caucasian children as well as low income children vs high income children F Middle Schools Makes kids feel anonymous which makes them less engaged and more likely to a Junior highs vs Middle schools b The middle school slump i Larger than grade schools misbehave ii More impersonal iii Less time spent with one teacher iv Less time spent with close friends c 6 3 3 model i 1st grade through 6th ii 7th 8th 9th iii 10th 11th 12th d K 5th 6th 8th 9th 12th e K 8th 9th 12th i Most effective because there are younger children around G Avoiding Problems in Middle School a Performance goal structure being told to compete b Task mastery structure ask their teachers for help Guest Speaker CCYS i Competition is the focus in getting the highest grade ii Doesn t meet the kids needs they are already unsure of themselves and now they are i Focus on the effort rather than the grade at the end ii Kids in these types of schools are more likely to value learning and are more likely to 11 10 15 H Successful Middle Schools a Teachers with special training b Rigorous relevant curriculum c Supportive respectful atmosphere d Parental involvement e Strive to ensure the success of all students f Be part of the larger civic community g Encouraged to develop good health habits I Characteristics of Good Schools a Size smaller is better b Atmosphere conducive to learning c School climate quality of interaction between teachers and students d Teachers behavior i When teachers have higher expectations research shows that students have better grades because they want to meet those expectations It also applies in the opposite direction teachers with lower expectations saw a drop in students grades ii Minorities and those with lower income are most affected by teachers expectations e Transition 6 3 3 5 3 4 i 8 4 ii K 8 together followed by 4 years of high school together is the most effective school structure 8th graders are surrounded by small children which influences their behavior J Direct Instruction Traditional vs Constructivism a Teacher centered vs child centered b Constructivism i Partners in learning ii Meaningful activities iii Reciprocal teaching students have some responsibility to teach something to the other students projects presentations etc iv Communities of learners Traditional instruction is the most typical in the United States Kids are happier in constructivist instruction environment Direct instruction has slightly better scores on standardized test K Curriculum a College preparatory sole focus is on getting students into college 80 90 of these b Vocational some of your time is spent in general education while other time is spent students go to college learning specific job skills c General just teaching general skills i Least effective highest dropout rate L Achievement and Dropping Out a 1 3 of high school students don t earn their diploma on time b Why drop out c Boredom and Alienation i Common characteristics of those who drop out ii Meaninglessness When children don t see a connection between what they are learning and the real Kids perceive there aren t uniform standards in the school and that some children world iii Normlessness get special treatment d Family responsibilities i Sometimes children are taking care of other siblings ii Teen pregnancies e Truancy f School failure g Engagement i When you miss a lot of school and become too far behind that they cannot catch up i When kids are not held back a year and they continuously fall more and more behind i Being psychologically committed to learning ii When students are less engaged they are more likely to dropout h Socioeconomic factors i Lack positive parental influences and examples ii Teachers are
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