School Reform

1. School Reform ET-ETP

2. Bumper Stickers • Activating Strategy: Bumper Stickers • Story Starter… as you were driving to class, you noticed the car in front of you had a bumper sticker on the back. Part of it was discolored and torn so that all you could see was “SCHOOL: The place for…” Ask students to quickly imagine the rest of that bumper sticker and share their ideas with the class.

3. What is the Purpose of School? Help us compete in global economy Just teach reading, writing and arithmetic Obtain high scores on international tests Promote creativity Study science, math, and technology so we can compete with India and China Develop character Develop good American citizens

4. EQ: What are the goals of American schools? • What are some of your purposes for attending school?

5. Two Major Purposes of School 1. Transmitting Society’s Knowledge and Values passing along cultural values 2. Reconstructing Society tools for social change Reconstructionists see society as broken and in need of repair

6. Reconstructionists • Social democratic reconstructionists civic learning part of curriculm 2. Social action curriculum students involved in social change activities Service Credit: earned by completing volunteer work; 1992-Maryland first state to require it • Economic reconstructionists schools-tool of oppression should analyze and reform economic realities ethical purchasing

7. Extended ThinkingPortfolio Assignment • Read the directions for 2:7 A Real Inservice Program on page 231 in your textbooks • In your teams, work together to complete the assignment requirements.

8. True education liberates. The Pedagogy of the OppressedPaulo Freire • Taught poor, illiterate peasants to read in Brazil • Read to identify what kept them poor • Able to analyze their problems and take action • Schools often miseducate and oppress

9. Other Demand on Schools • John Goodlad’s study A Place Called School researched 300 years of documents • Four main goals that parents, students, and teachers rated as very important • Academic • Vocational • Social and civic • Personal

10. What do you think schools should be doing? • 1953 Arthur Bestor wrote . . . “The idea that school must undertake to meet every need that some other agency [person] is failing to meet, regardless of the suitability of the schoolroom to the task, is a preposterous delusion that in the end can wreck the educational system.” • 1980s Ernest Boyer concluded after a major study . . . “Since the English classical school was founded over 150 years ago, high schools have accumulated purposes like barnacles on a weathered ship. As school population expanded from a tiny urban minority to almost all youth, a coherent purpose was hard to find. The nation piled social policy upon educational policy and all of them on top of the delusion that a single institution can do it all.”

11. EQ: What school goals are important to you? • More than two thirds of Americans believe that schools are responsible for the academic as well as behavioral, social, and emotional needs of all students. (Sadker 151) • Let’s complete the survey in your textbook on page 152-153 • What did your ratings teach you about your values and your view of school?

12. Common set of values • Acculturation, or Americanization • Immigrants replace their old culture with American culture • Should we force immigrants to give up their cultures?

13. Critical ThinkingWhat’s in a name? • Read the Frame of Reference in your textbook on page 149. • In your teams, respond to the following questions: • How was your school named? • Who should name a school? • What would teachers choose? • What would students choose? • How do our school names reflect the power and culture of society? • What’s in a name?

14. Extended Thinking • Activity 5.4 – Determining School Goals • To examine the complex and confusing question of “What are schools for?” ask the students to form small groups to develop the one most important role that schools should play. After students have discussed the question, have each group report their decision. List each decision, and then ask the class to discuss the roles in relation to the following: • Are the roles different? Are they exclusive? • Can the school achieve all the roles developed? Why or why not? • Are the roles conflicting? If so, which ones? Why? • Which groups would benefit from each role? Why? • Which groups would be perceived as not benefiting? Why? • Who should have the final say in deciding the role of the school? • Portfolio Assignment • In your teams, follow the directions for 2:6 A Public Service Announcement: The Purpose of School

15. EQ: Why has school reform become a national priority? • A Nation at Risk 1983 • Declining test scores • Weak performance of U.S. Student compared with students in other industrialized nations • Fear U.S. losing ground economically • High % of functionally illiterate Americans Increased the number of standardized tests

16. Extended ThinkingLet’s read, “Charting a New Course for Schools” and analyze the author’s purpose in writing this article. (remember your tips for reading nonfiction-next slide) Answer the following questions: In addition to dire warnings about falling wages, what else is needed to actually produce the radical nationwide reform Tucker proposes? Explain the potential benefits and pitfalls of associating a public school with another entity, like a corporation, nonprofit, or teachers’ union? What should happen if no one steps forward to partner with a particular school? What if a religious institution applied to sponsor a public school? In addition to academic achievement, what other competencies does student need before leaving high school? How would you assess whether a teenager is capable of operating successfully in college and work environments?

17. Strategies for reading nonfiction. • Read the questions before you read the article so you know what to look for while reading. • Don’t skim. Read all the material carefully. • Break up difficult assignments into sections you can digest — chapters, subsections or even paragraphs. • Look up any words that you don’t understand. • Pause to think about whether you understand the material; write down your questions about it. • Take notes instead of highlighting — this makes you think through and rephrase the key points. • Create a summary sheet of what you learned from each assignment you read.

18. 1892 NEA Committee of Ten • Develop national police for high school students • Carnegie units • College professors and presidents • Wanted consistency in high schools to determine who was worthy of college

19. 1918 Met Again • Committee made up of • Education professors • High school principals • U.S. Commissioner of Education • Others focused on preparing students for life roles Not everyone was going to college

20. Committee asked the question: What can high schools do to improve the daily lives of citizens in an industrial democracy? • Cardinal Principles of Education • Health • Worthy home membership • Command of fundamental academic skills • Vocation • Citizenship • Worthy use of leisure time • Ethical character (improve all aspects of a person’s life)

21. Reform Movements • School choice • Charter school • Vouchers • Magnet Schools • Open enrollment • Schools.com • Schools for profit • Home schools • Green schools • Full Service schools

22. School Choice • Milton Friedman, economist • First to suggest shutting down poor schools • Weak because it was monopoly • Schools should compete • Wealthy did have a choice • Could move to better school area • Attend private school • Voucher plan

23. 1981 James Coleman • Private schools better than public schools • 1993 study, Catholic schools educating inner-city students better and cheaper • Late 1980s • Many public schools were disasters • Early 2000s Bill Gates • To compete on global scale, needed to fix schools • Committed several billion to American schools • Rigor, relevance, relationships • 2009 McKinsey & Co. report-The Economic Gap in America’s Schools • Put a dollar figure cost on poor education system • 2009 • Reform movement growing-more choices • Prepare for 21st century learning • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O35n_tvOK74&feature=related

24. Waiting On Superman • Watch the video • Answer these questions: • What is your initial reaction to the movie? • Do you feel that WGHS is “broken”? • What suggestions do you have to reform education in America? • Choose a modern-day education reformer and research

25. Charter Schools • 1990-Minnesota created first • Now 5000 in over 40 states • Contract with local state or school board • Exempt from state and local regulations • No admissions tests • Nonsectarian • Requires a demonstrable improvement in performance • Can be closed if it does not meet expectations-ALLOWED TO RUN FOR FIXED AMOUNT OF TIME • Receives funding based on the number of students enrolled • What is a charter school? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wT8OlWa5bGo

26. KIPP Charter Schools(Knowledge is Power Program) • Five principles • More time • High expectations • Choice and commitment • Power to lead • Focus on results • 2007 95% of KIPP graduates went to college-preparatory high schools • Challenge-keeping their kids in school

27. Types of Charter Schools • KIPP • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVi07IxmVkg • SEED • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ3ZM1hcH4o • Career Academies • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2_UKHpHh78 • TEP • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=azNo8ttSCiY&feature=related • Ron Clark Academy • http://www.ronclarkacademy.com/ • Which is better, charter or public? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=fvwp&v=UOZNCZguGvQ&NR=1 • Diane Ravitch’s opinion on charter schools • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_HwI6S92Eo&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2-tQcD9v48&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAivikFLJvU&feature=related • Diane Ravitch blog on a virtual charter schoolhttp://dianeravitch.net/2012/07/27/another-virtual-charter-school-scandal/

28. Charter School CommissionThe battle in Georgia • Mark Peevy-Guest speaker • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvg1LtUKzsg • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cspp5gTU8Qw&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPk2tqQUQsY • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7SG2Z4IdRo • HB 797 • http://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/en-US/Display/20112012/HB/797 • http://gae2.org/content.asp?contentid=1570 • http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/2012/05/03/governor-signs-charter-school-enabling-bill-today-and-endorses-november-amendment/ • HR 1162 • http://www.legis.ga.gov/Legislation/en-US/display/20112012/HR/1162

29. Vouchers • An admission ticket to any school in the country, public or private (voucher=taxpayer money) • According to Friedman: • Gov’t gives families vouchers • Parents chose a school • Turn in the voucher • Schools exchange vouchers for cash from gov’t • Good schools will have a lot of cash • Poor schools will not

30. Separation of Church and State • 1971 Lemon V. Kurtzman • 1973 Nyquist case • Supreme Court established clear lines between government and religion • Lemon test to determine legality of gov’t funds used in religious schools • Must have secular purpose • Must not advance or prohibit religion • Must no result in excessive gov’t entanglement in religion

31. Separation of Church and State • 2002 Zelman v. Simmons-Harris • SC ruled publicly funded vouchers could be used to send students to religious schools 2009 Reality is vouchers only used in six states many state courts ruled them unconstitutional

32. With whom do agree? • Chief Justice Rehnquist wrote that vouchers allow a “genuine choice among options public and private, secular and religious.” • Justice Stevens wrote, “Whenever we remove a brick from the wall that was designed to separate religion and government, we increase the risk of religious strife and weaken the foundation of our democracy.”

33. Watch “Tour of Boston Charter School” • How might experiences in large and small charter schools differ? • Would you want to attend a charter school? Why or why not? • Would you want to teach in a charter school?

34. Magnet Schools • Offers one or more special programs such as science, math or performing arts that is so excellent, it draws students like a magnet • A way to desegregate schools-set up in inner city areas to attract white students • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmsd_dvUZlw • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCqEmXTvFYs&feature=fvwrel • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfTYgaUoWZ0&feature=related • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hemWWCEzXBc • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ACuSMBgm31U • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SbTJvzu1mY • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3gZqKSx8pbA&feature=relmfu

35. Open Enrollment • 1988 Minnesota • Students could attend any school • Arkansas, Iowa, Nebraska and other states joined • Today, more than 40 states allow open enrollment • Read the Profile in Education on page 163 in your textbook. • In your opinion, what American values are reflected—or undermined—in school choice?

36. Schools.com • A type of distance learning • Provided by means of T.V. the Internet, and other technologies • 1990s-first VHS began in UT, FL, and MA • Today, k-12 online learning programs in about half the states • 700,000 children participate • 2006 Michigan-1st state to require at least one online course for graduation\ • Ga Virtual Schoolhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EF2lygpYOEI • K12.com http://www.k12.com/take-a-peek/behind-the-scenes/science/ • Students report that they find virtual courses more personal, interactive, and individualized than typical high school classes • Why do you think this is so?

37. Schools for Profit • EMO-educational maintenance organizations • Companies that run schools to yield a profit for their stockholders • Edison Schools • 1990 Whittle offered Yale President Schmidt a million dollars to run the company • Lengthen school day by 1-2 hours • School year-from 180 to 210 • This adds 2 more years of study by grad • More time on math, science, foreign lang. • Use proven programs for math and reading • Learning contracts • Computers at home http://edisonlearning.com/index.php?q=school-turnaround-success-south-carolina • Studies showing that Edison schools not doing any better than public schools • http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/edison/inside/ • In your teams, read the information on page 166 in your textbooks in “You Be the Judge: For-Profit Schools • Discuss your responses to the questions • Be prepared to share with the class

38. Homeschooling • 30 years ago-12,500 students homeschooled • Today-1 to 2 million • Why do you think it has increased? • Ideologues-focus on teaching certain values • Pedagogues-focus on educational goals • Read paragraph on page 167 that describes a homeschooling scenario

39. Homeschooling • Pros • Outperform traditionally educate students on standardized test and social skills • Earn higher GPAs in college • More self-directed and willing to take risks • Cons • Social isolation????

40. Green Schools • EPA-over 60,000,000 people spend their days in schools • Half of all school-unsatisfactory indoor enviormental conditions • 1 in 5 have unhealthy air quality • 1/3 in need of extensive repair • Green Schools • Promote clean air and water quality • Healthy and natural foods • Recycling • Nontoxic cleaners • Alternative means of transportation • Promote energy conservation • http://www.centerforgreenschools.org/main-nav/k-12/what.aspx • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=juWktbF-Wwc • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYBfDGEiCIM

41. Full Service School • Learning cannot occur if the BASIC needs of the students and parents are not met • Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmtmxYbDhKA • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKZIvUNPg0g • Provides network of social services • Nutrition • health care • Transportation • Counseling • Parent education

42. Extended Thinking • Activity 5.7 – School Reform • To reinforce students’ understanding of the different school reform movements, have students conduct an informal debate on the subject of school reform. Divide students into small groups to represent the different kinds of school reform, from “back to basics” to privatization. • Groups should select from the following reform menu: • “Back-to-basics” • Student and teacher empowerment • Full-service schools • Vouchers • Open enrollment • Choice • Charter schools • EMOs (Educational Maintenance Organizations) • Privatization, such as the Edison Project • Home schooling • Allow the students ten to fifteen minutes in their groups to prepare. Ask for representatives from each group to make the case for that kind of reform as most likely to improve schools. (Students should make explicit the school goals they are emphasizing; this will further illustrate the diverse nature of goals for schools.)

43. Guest Speaker • Homeschooling families • Interview the parents (and, if appropriate, the students) from home schooling families to find out what advantages and disadvantages they see in this method of education. What resources do they use? What interaction, if any, does their child have with the local school system? Have students summarize and share their findings with the class.

44. What is the role of teachers and students in reforming our schools? • Empower teachers • Allow them greater responsibility • Tenure • After three years, earn expectancy of employment • Protects from arbitrary dismissal • Due Process • http://www.gapsc.com/Certification/ProfessionalEducatorConduct.asp • GPSC disciplinary actions: • http://www.gapsc.com/Ethics/DisciplinaryActions.asp • http://www.educationnews.org/commentaries/opinions_on_education/156719.html • http://law2.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/conlaw/dueprocesstudents.htm • Also protects bad teachers • Merit pay • Pay based on how well he/she teaches • Let’s read the conversation on page 173 in your textbook about merit pay • Does it work? What do you think?

45. Extended Thinking • What is the nonacademic role of the teacher?

46. When was the last time someone asked you about your thoughts on school? • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o • What would you like to see and experience at school?

47. Take me seriously. • Challenge me to think. • Nurture my self-respect. • Show me I can make a difference. • Let me do it my way. • Point me toward my goal. • Make me feel important. • Build on my interest. • Tap my creativity • Bring out my best self.

48. Teachers, Students and Trust: Poetry The Uses of Not Thirty spokes Meet at the hub. Where the wheel isn’t Is where it is useful. Hollowed out, clay makes a pot. Where the pot is not Is where it’s useful. Cut doors and windows To make a room. Where the room isn’t, There’s room for you. So the profit in what is Is in the use of what isn’t.

49. Five-Factor Theory of Effective Schools 1. Strong leadership 2. A clear school mission 3. A safe and orderly climate 4. Monitoring student progress 5. High expectations Survey Monkey project: 10 Traits of an Effective High School http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurveys.aspx

50. Strong Leadership • Effective principals . . . • Articulate a clear school mission • Are a visible presence in classrooms and hallways • Hold high expectations for teachers and students • Spend a major portion of the day working with teachers to improve instruction • Are actively involved in diagnosing instructional problems • Create a positive school climate