IMON FRASER UNIVERSITY

Spring Semester 2000 ?

EDUC 240 - 3

Dr. Janis Dawson

Social Issues in Education

Office: MPX 8639

Tel: 291-3476

Mon & Wed 15:30-17:20 ?

D01.00

E-mail: jdawson@sfu.ca

PREREQUISITE

None.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will examine social issues in education within their historical and cultural contexts.

TOPICS

• The Origin, Nature, and Purpose of Schooling

• Schooling and Social Control

• Inequalities in Education

• Children, Education, and the Media

• Children without Childhood

• Children at Risk

• Prejudice and Intolerance in Schooling

• Schooling and Assimilation

OBJECTIVES

To encourage students to think seriously about the nature of education and schooling and to

consider the relationship between education, schooling, and major social, political, and

economic institutions in society.

To stimulate an interest in the future of education in Canada.

The emphasis in the course will be on (but not limited to) education in Canada. Education will

be broadly conceived and discussion will not be limited to schools and schooling.

REQUIREMENTS

Grading will be based on written assignments and class participation.

REQUIRED READINGS

Gatto, John T. Dumbing Us Down. Philadelphia: New Society Publisher.

Postman, Neil. The Disappearance of Childhood. Vintage (Random House).

Dorris, Michael. The Broken Cord. Harper Collins.

Knockwood, Isabelle. Out of the Depths. Roseway Publishing.

RECOMMENDED READING

Webber, Marlene. Street Kids. University of Toronto.

THIS COURSE MAY BE APPLIED TOWARD THE CERTIFICATE OF LIBERAL ARTS