EDUCATION 390-4

SPECIAL TOPICS: THE SCHOOL

AS

WORKPLACE

Regular Summer Semester, 1989

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Instructor: Peter Coleman

(May 8 - August 4)

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Office: ?

MPX 8662

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

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Phone: ?

291-3622

Location:

MPX

8651

COURSE OBJECTIVES

The objectives of the course are to provide students with a range of

information drawn from current research on schools as workplaces for

students and teachers. It is expected that students will considerably enlarge

their knowledge of schools in general, even perhaps of the schools they

have experienced. In particular, the differences between effective and

ineffective schools as teacher workplaces should emerge clearly.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

The course is organized in four sections. They are:

Schools as social institutions:

This introductory section will examine

four aspects of schools as social institutions: governance; quality; and

climate.

Students and schools:

This section will examine three dimensions of

school effects on students: equality of opportunity; student influence and

rights; and the school as preparation for citizenship.

Teachers and schools:

This section will examine the school as

workplace from the perspective of teachers. The main topics are teacher

work; professionalism; and incentives.

Parents and schools:

The main topics here are parent opinions about

school; and parental contributions to school quality.

The class activities all focus upon using both the available research and the

collective experience of class members to build a model of relationships

within schools, focussing largely on teachers, which seem to contribute to

school quality.

COURSE TEXTS

Required: Ghosh, A., & Ray, D. (1987). Social change and education in

Canada. Toronto: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

Recommended: Goodlad, J.l. (1984). A place called school. New York:

McGraw-Hill.

Lortie, D.C. (1975). Schoolteacher. Chicago, Ill.: University of Chicago Press.

A list of readings is also required. Copies will be made available.