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COURSE SYLLABUS
Education 240: Social Issues in Education
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Summer 1978
Instructor: Dr June Wyatt
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May 8- August 4
Lectures:
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Wednesday 10:30 - 12:30
Thursday
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1:30 - 3:30
Objectives:
To examine contemporary social controversies about the way schools should
operate--should they reflect and reinforce social relationships outside of
the school or should they attempt to alter these; is the latter possible?
What rights do students, parents and teachers have in determining what goes
on in schools, what rights should they have? In what ways do the expectations
of these groups and of individuals within these groups conflict.
What rights do religious, linguistic and cultural minority groups have?
Required Reading: (do not purchase before class)
These texts will provide students with a common core of knowledge and common
frames of reference. The book by Cusick should be read in its entirety.
Only certain sections of the others will be required. The books should be
read in approximately the following order:
Tn t-h. Rrckstrr
Cusick, Phillip Inside High School
Martell, George Politics of the Canadian Public School
Wolfgang, Aaron The Education of Immigrant Students
Harvard Ed. Review Reprints (Graubard, Bereiter, Kozol)
Fantini, Mario Alternatives in Education
Some Supplementary Sources (in the Library)
(these are cited collections of readings)
Byrne, N. & Quarter, J. Must Schools Fail
Gross & Gross childrens Rights
Gross, B. & Gross, R. Radical School Reform
Humphreys Focus on Canadian Studies
Morrison, T. & Burton A. Options: Reforms and Alternatives for
Canadian Education
Troost, C.J. Radical School Reform: Critique and Alternatives
Expectations:
1. Tutorial Participation: 65% of grade
Each member of a tutorial will participate in all discussions and
will serve as a leader in one.
Discussion groups will be small--approx. 5 people per group.
40% of grade for your role as leader.
25% of grade for your role as participant.
2.
The following will serve as foci for discussion:
1. Martell, G.
2. Wolfgang, A. Cultural Differences
3.
Harvard
Fantini,
Ed.
M.
Review Reprints)
Alternatives
4.
Student Selected Topic
rn-rmnt-
A. As a discussion leader you are responsible for:
1.
Seeking out different points of view expressed in
the readings.
2.
Formulating discussion questions based on readings and
making sure that members of the group have these one week
before the discussion.
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3.
Assigning readings to discussion group members one week
ahead of the discussion.
4. Directing the discussion.
5.
Writing up a report on the discussion to be handed in no
later than 10 days after the discussion.
Criteria for Evaluating Report
1.
Clarity of writing, organization, presentation.
2.
Clarity in focussing on and highlighting issues.
3.
Comprehensiveness of materials used. The books ordered for
the book store should get you started. Your initiative and
creativity in making use of other sources will be taken into
account in evaluating your report.
(The report is not a series of "book reports" or summaries but
an analysis of the ways in which readings and discussions high-
lighted issues.)
The report should be no longer than 8 pages and should include:
1.
The questions you used to guide discussion with an
explanation of why you formulated these questions. How
are the questions related to what you read?
2.
A statement of the issues. You should report not only
on what happened in the discussion group but your own
analysis of the issues.
3.
A statement of different-points of view as expressed in
readings.
B. As discussion participant you are responsible fort
1.
Doing readings assigned by leader.
2.
Handing in a 2 page account of each discussion (8 points
per account) in which you describe the main issues, what
you read and how it related to the discussion. Due no
later than 7 days after the discussion.
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2. FINAL EXAM: 35% of grade.
Lecture ToDics
I.
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The School and Society: Role and Functions, What is it supposed
to do? History, How did it come about?
a)
Goals and Purposes
b) Socialization, Stratification, Mobility
c)
Conflicts in Public Expectations
d)
Schools: Agents of
.Change or Upholders of the Status
Quo.
II.
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The School as a Social Institution--How does it operate,
Does it achieve the objectives set for it?
Define Institution--ordered relationships between people
in order to get something done.
a)
The Role of the Teacher-Teacher Expectations
b)
The Role of the Student-Student Expectations
c)
The Hidden Curriculum
III. ?
ISSUE: Rights in School
a)
Nature of Rights-Community and Societal Interests,
Compulsory Education
b)
Student Rights. Ghildrens Rights
c)
Parent Rights. Moral Education
d)
Teacher Rights
IV. ?
ISSUE: The Struggle for Control/Community and Education
a)
Centralization vs. Local Control
b)
Neighborhood/Community Schools
c)
Religious, Linguistic, Cultural Minorities
V.
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ISSUE: Pluralism and Education
a)
Academically deficient or culturally different?
b)
Compensatory Education
c)
Multiculturalism: Melting pot or mosaic?
VI. ?
ISSUE: Equality of Educational Opportunity
a)
Finances
b) Curriculum
c)
Teacher Preparation
3.
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COURSE CALENDAR
LECTURES ?
TUTORIALS
May 10 Introduction, Expectations, Scope of the Course
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1. No Meeting
11 School & Society (Functions) conflicting public
expectations
17 School as a Social Institution
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2. Expectations,
FILM: HIGH SCHOOL ?
Group Organization
18 FILM: HIGH SCHOOL (continued)
24 FILM: SUMMERHILL ?
3.
25 School as Institution--roles/Hidden Curriculum
31 Teacher Expectations. The Self Fulfilling Prophecy 4. Discussion: Cusick,
June 1 Alternatives in structure and roles, in content
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Inside
(lead by
High
T.A.)
School
7 Alternatives in Vancouver
8 FILM: FUTURE SHOCK
14 FILM: HUTTERITES
15 Compulsory Education - Rights
21 De-Sghooling Society
22 Parent Rights - Moral Education
5.
6. Discussion: Martell
(any section) student
led.
7.
28 Community Education - Community Schools
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8. Discussion:
Student led
29 Independent Schools
July 5 Indian Control of Indian Education ? 9.
6 FILM: BELLA BELLA
12 Pluralism and Education ?
10. Discussion: Cultural
13 FILM: BETWEEN TWO WORLDS
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Martell)
Differences
Student
(Wolfgang,
led.
19 FILM: EYE OF THE STORM
20 Immigration and Education
26 Language, Culture and Education
27 Equality of Educational Opportunity
Aug. ?
2
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Conclusions
3 FINAL EXAM
11.
12.
Discussion: Alternatives
Fantini, HER reprints
student led.
13. Role Play: Creating
Educational
Alternatives