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.

    Back to top