EDUCATION 395
?
SPECIAL TOPICS: SCHOOL AS A WORKPLACE
Summer Semester ?
Instructor: ?
Peter Coleman
May 9- August 5
Thursday, 5:30 - 9:20
Location: MPX 7506
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 of the schools they have
experienced.
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
The course falls into four sections. They are:
Schools as social Institutions:
This introductory section will examine four aspeOts of schools as social
institutions: school functions; school quality; school climate; and school improvement.
Students and schools:
This section will examine three dimensions of school effects on students:
student opinions of schooling; student dropouts; 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; collegiality and the peer-group; working conditions; and
staff development.
Parents and schools:
The opinions of parents do not play a large part in shaping schools and
schooling. Yet quite a lot is known about parents' preferences and potential role. The main topics
here are parent opinions about school; parents as partners; and parents as political pressure groups.
ACTIVITIES:
Some of the course readings will be discussed at each class session. The purpose of these
discussions is to arrive at some consensus about the importance and relevance of the material and to
propose ways in which practitioners can make use of the information provided to improve schooling for
children.
EVALUATION
OF
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT:
Evaluation will be based on class presentations, special assignments including analyses of school
practices, and a term paper. The allotment of marks will be discussed at the first session.
COURSE TEXTS:
Required: Ghosh, R. & Ray, D. (1987). Social change and education in Canada. Toronto: Harcourt
Brace Jovanovich.
Recommended: Goodlad, J. I. (1984). A place called school. New York: McGraw-Hill.