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EDUCATION 2O-3
SOCIAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION
FALL,
1980
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INSTRUCTOR: Allan Luke
CAMPUS
Schools are by definition social institutions; they are "social" in structure,
defining roles and relationships, and they exist as institutional components of
the larger social system. This course focuses on contemporary schools, and the
various "controversies" which arise from educational policy and practice.
We will look at the structure, function, and practice of Canadian schools.
Just what are the implications of schooling for students, educators, parents,
and public? We will address this question on theoretical and practical levels.
Foundational perspectives from the disciplines of sociology, communications,
literature, and philosophy will be introduced to help us analyze critically
the Canadian educational context. We will study the relationship of schools
to technological society, examining topics such as: the hidden curriculum,
social structure and process in the school, power in education, behaviour
modification programs, and the classification of different "paradigms" of
schooling.
We will be looking at national educational issues such as: Canadian content
of texts, "family choice" and religion in schooling, sexism and racism, as well
as British Columbia topics like Bill 33, literacy and basic skills acquisition,
standardized testing, and declining enrollment. We will examine social issues
both on the level of actual cases, situations, and historical contexts, and
on the level of the critical relationship of school to society.
The course format involves lectures, guest speakers, seminar discussion,
videotapes, and films. The films tentatively scheduled include: Neill's
Summerhill, Men's Lives, Hutterites, The Students' Voice, and Wiseman's High
School. A detailed bibliography and class schedule will be provided the first
week.
Evaluation: 2 short discussiors or research papers
(5
pages, typed) various short
seminar assignments
final essay examination
Required Texts:
MARTELL, G.; The Politics of the Canadian Public School
CUSICK, P.; Inside High School
Recommended Texts:
NELSON, R. & NOCK, D.; Reading, Writing and Riches
EISENBERG & MacQUEEN; Don't Teach That
FREIRE, P.; Education for Critical Consciousness
YOUNG, M.; Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education