Spring Semester, 1989

January 9- April 7

Mondays and Wednesdays

1:30 - 2:20, Tutorials

Instructor:

Dr. S. de Castell

Office:

MPX

8545

Phone:

291-3627

Location:

MPX 7618

4

0

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EDUCATION 240-3:

PREREQUISITE

None

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course is concerned with the role and functions of the school as a social

institution, and focuses on a variety of issues of which educators, parents, and

students should he conscious. Some of these, such as sexism, racism, social-class

and the like, are obvious and controversial. Others, such as competition, streaming,

centralization of control, classroom and school hierarchies, the promotion of

"conformity" in school texts, and corporate control of the school curriculum, will be

less obvious. The course integrates

films,

panel discussion, formal lectures and

guest speakers.

OBJECTIVES

The central goal of this course is to engage students in an informed critical

reconsideration of the purposes, processes and outcomes of public schooling.

Students will learn about the structure of the public education system in B.C., about

its goals and practices, both historical and current, and about the varied social sub

groups public education tries -- and sometimes fails -- to serve.

OUTLINE OF TOPICS

The structure of the public educational system; models of schooling, past, present,

and future; racism, sexism, social-class bias; socialization vs. education; the core

curriculum; streaming, testing and stratification; privatization and the future of public

education.

REQUIRED TEXT

S. de Castell. Social Issues in Education. Education 240 Study Guide, Simon Fraser

University.

Course Reader: Social Issues in Education. Centre for Distance Education, Simon Fraser

University.

A detailed course outline and assignment schedule will be made available at the first class.

Course texts can be purchased from T.A.'s at the first tutorial.