Society & Schooling:
Influences on Education and Reform

Week One Topics:

· Teachers as Change Agents
· Educational Theories, Innovations and School Change
· The Role of Professional Development in School Reform

Reactions to Reading Material
When thinking about learning and preparing our youth to be successful in life and their endeavors, we often refer to the terms education and schooling. Although sometimes thought to be interchangeable, they differ as well. Education is the process in which one acquires information and learns different functions and symbolic expressions to be successful in a specific community. Education is a continual life long process. Schooling is just one way to achieve this. Schooling is a formal environment in which teaching and learning occur. With time, the changing demographics of our society and international communities and developments in technology, schooling, the role of teachers and the modes of education are rapidly changing as well.
Although proper teacher preparation is critical, there are many other factors that influence education and schooling. These factors include and interplay of socio-cultural, economic and political issues in relation to schools and an individual’s education.
Some of the current issues in education and schooling are:

The School-Choice Debate

• Intrasectional (Public) Choice Plans
  Magnet Schools
  Controlled-Choice Options
  Charter Schools
  Contract Schools
• Intersectional Choice Plans
  Public Voucher Plans
  Private Voucher and Scholarship Plans
• Home schooling
• Virtual Schools
• Alternative Schools
  

School Reform
· Standards-Based Accountability
· Comprehensive School Reform
· Shared Decision-Making
· Market Strategies

The Varying Socio-economic Contexts of Schools and Districts
· Racial/Ethnic Diversity
· Changing Family Patterns
· Poverty/Homelessness
· Teen Pregnancy
· Availability of Drugs and Alcohol
· Factors That Inhibit Risky Student Behavior
· Demographic Planning


The nature of society has a profound affect on schooling and education. There exist vast differences in opinions in regards to schooling at all levels. Numerous reform policies, different learning theories, student individuality, social and economic contexts are all external factors that teachers have to take in to account. This coupled with personal theories can often lead teachers to feelings of frustration in regards to unsuccessful policies and practices.
Considering the readings, there are a variety of different thoughts and opinions about remedying failing schools, unsuccessful reforms and low student achievement. Which one will work? Schools need researched based methods and practices, district need economic equality in terms of resources and parents need to be assured that their child is receiving paramount educational opportunities.

Class Discussion and Activities
Class discussions lead us to further explore some of the key concepts in this class: Education vs. schooling, teaching, learning, curriculum content, change, innovation, reform and technology. Using the example provided, we described how schooling and education has changed over the years:

• From Industrial age to information age
• From Homogeneous culture to multicultural diversity
• From Socialization by family to socialization by peers and media
• From Individualism to community

In addition, our presentations allowed us to jigsaw pieces together and peer-teach the concepts of education in changing world: Socio-political, economical and cultural factors and their influences on schooling. Unfortunately time constraints allowed for only a touch, on each topic, which is unfortunate.
The economical issues presented by group 1, Medieval Times, left me with a desire to learn more about the cost cutting trends. I found particular interest in energy performance contracting, lotteries and the pros and cons of solicitation of bids for services. With economics as a fundamental issue in regards to schooling and reform, the chosen topics on efficiency and cost effectiveness were innovative and informative. I practice efficiency and cost effectiveness in my home and wish our government and schools would do the same. We all know that the intention of lotto was to help support the schools and education system. Which bring rise to some questions about the allocation of lottery funds. In addition, questions arise about soliciting bids for services. What are the pros and cons of this? Our government has done the same by allowing privatization of roadways and bridges to foreign and international interest. In doing this, the benefit and money, has been externalized. What is the likelihood that this can happen to our schools? People who solicit bids have profit in mind not education.
The Breakfast Club, group 2, introduced the many different implications that politics play on our educational system. The examples illustrated, 8 goals for the year 2000, support to the notion that educational reform is imperative to the global achievement of American Students. As an American society I think it is important that litigation and policies start to support a more centralized system for national academic achievement. Although more power over schools and districts has been allocated towards the discretion of the state, I am not sure that I agree with this paradigm shift.
The politics of litigation is not the only way that politics affects students, education and learning. Our country is fortunate not to have war on our land. In other unfortunate areas war and politics has a big influence on facilitating and deterring education. Also, American children of military families may also suffer individually by means of emotional stress and continual uprooting.

Applications to future teaching
The article, Teachers who learn, kids who achieve, gave light to the importance of effective professional development. In regards to my own education, I feel lucky to be entering the field at this stage in development. Change can be one of the hardest obstacles to overcome. Because I don’t have any current practices, I am not faced with the difficult task of changing my current practices. As a teacher candidate I am developing innovative skills and tools that are geared toward the ideals of the twenty-first century; educational reform and differentiated instruction. The Power Point Presentation, Helping Teachers Change to More Appropriate Practice, made me realize that educational practices must continuously change to our changing society and students. The steps that I an taking now, on the road to becoming a teacher, are properly preparing me for the challenges ahead, instilling me with values of diversity, and the capability to adapt and prepare my students for their future.
Education, society and change are constant and unavoidable. The most important thing for me as a teacher is to except this and work towards helping sustain and carry out substantial effective change.

Concluding Statement

Teacher preparation has changed greatly over the years. Teacher’s roles have changes from being instillers of moral value to facilitators of education. Just as the role of teachers has changed, so has teacher preparation. With the dwindling academic achievement of American students in comparison to international students, educators and the public agree that proper teacher preparation is crucial for meaningful and effective schooling. Not only is proper preparation important so is consistent professional development.
As a teacher candidate I have to be sure that teaching is a good fit for me and my lifestyle. There are many advantages and disadvantages of being a teacher, but for me the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages. It does not matter whether teaching has achieved true professional status or not. I have never been one to consider or live by status, class or social standing. In regards to myself, most important is success. Success is not a dollar amount but a level of personal achievement that can be measured via actions and the directions in which one travels, to arise at their ultimate means, maximum implementation of potential and emotional wellbeing.