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SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

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SOCIAL ISSUES IN EDUCATION

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(E1.00)?

(Cat. #81560)

Regular Summer Semester, 1993

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Instructor: Dawn Gordon

(May 3-July 30)

Wednesday, 5:30-9:20 p.m.

Location: MPX 8651

COURSE OUTLINE

This course will explore social issues in education within their sociilpolitical and cultural

context. Students will have the chance to reflect critically upon questions such as: How

do schools mirror the socio-political and historical values and perspectives of the society?

What is the nature and purpose of schooling? Do schools serve to perpetuate or

reproduce the status quo, or can they be agents of change? How do schools promote

equity, and what are issues of class, gender or cultural and racial bias? How does

schooling relate to social issues of modern or post-industrial societies?

Although the course will focus on education in Canada, comparative studies may be

introduced. The course format will include lectures, discussions and films. Students will

be encouraged to integrate their own personal educational experiences. There are no

prerequisites.

OBJECTIVES AND TOPICS

The general objectives are:

• to help students to think critically about teaching and learning within a historical,

socio/cultural and political context;

• to consider the relationship between education and other major social, political

and economic institutions in society.

Topics include:

• the nature and purpose of schooling

• education and culture

• immigration and issues of ethnicity and multiculturalism

• racism, class bias, gender and general equity issues in education

• education and social change

• education and community

COURSE ASSESSMENT

The course assessment will include short papers, participation and/or journal, essay

project or test.

Please turn over .....

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REQUIRED TEXTS

Haig-Brown, Celia. (1988). Resistance and Renewal: Surviving the Indian Residential

School. Vancouver Pulp Press.

Gaskell, Jane, et al. (1989). Claiming an Education: Feminism and Canadian Schools.

Toronto: Garamond Press

Gatto, John Taylor. (1992). Dumbing us Down. Gabriola Island, B.C.: New Society

Publishers.

Additional articles will be assigned

TEXTS (On Reserve)

Ashton-Warner, Sylvia. (1963). Teacher. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Webber. (1991). Street Kids. University of Toronto Press.

This outline is subject to change.

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Centre for Distance Educii ?

Faculty of Education

EDUCATION 240-3

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SOCIAL

ISSUES

IN EDUCATION

This course introduces students to the study of public education as a social

institution in terms of its origins, character, consequences, and possible future.

Students are encouraged to explore, analyze and raise questions concerning

issues such as the aims and practices of public schooling, education and

socialization, streaming and testing, school knowledge and social class, racism

and sexism in education.

PREREQUISiTE:

None.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS:

Four essay assignments are required and will be graded at 25% each.

11/02/92