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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.
    S
    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

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