Current Issues and Trends in Education

by Aldridge, Jerry; Goldman, Renitta

• ISBN13: 9780321079787
• ISBN10: 0321079787
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

"Current Issues and Trends in Education" synthesizes political, theoretical, social, and practical topics in a 21st Century context and promotes multicultural education, technology, and gender issues. This text is accessible enough to be used in an introductory education class and yet sophisticated enough to serve as a graduate textbook. It is comprehensive in dealing with issues facing educators today, such as demographics, changing perceptions and research of human development and learning, and education in nontraditional settings. Its four parts cover 1) "Political, Economic, and Historical Issues and Trends," 2) "Evolving Notions of Human Development and Learning," 3) "Changing Views of Instruction," and 4) "Issues in Accommodating Differences."

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
SECTION ONE Political, Economic, and Historical Issues and Trends
Politics and Education	1	(12)
The Conservative Backlash	1	(2)
Disparities between Curriculum and Student Needs	2	(1)
Who Controls the Schools?	3	(1)
The Democratic-Progressive Discourse	3	(2)
Other Choices?	4	(1)
Recent and Future Political Challenges	5	(2)
Attitudes about Schooling	5	(1)
Policy Issues Related to Education	5	(2)
The George W. Bush Educational Initiatives	7	(1)
Misguided Educational Reform?	7	(3)
Challenges for Educators	10	(1)
References	11	(2)
Changing Demographics amid Diversity	13	(26)
Is Diversity a Myth?	13	(4)
The Rapid Hispanic Migration to the United States	14	(1)
People on the Move	15	(1)
Size-Begets-Growth Phenomenon	15	(1)
Blacks and the New South	16	(1)
White Migration	16	(1)
Melting Pots and Salad Bowls: How Elusive Can Demographics Be?	17	(2)
Minority Majorities, or, Where Have the White People Gone?	18	(1)
Small Numbers, Fast Growth	18	(1)
Cities Still Have the Most Minorities	19	(1)
How Rapid and Diverse Population Growth Challenges the Public Schools	19	(7)
A Small Number of Schools Carry the Heaviest Burden	19	(1)
Student Enrollment at an All-Time High	20	(1)
Hispanics: The Greatest Growth of Immigration and Its Impact on Public Schools	20	(1)
Teacher Shortages: Both Quantity and Quality?	20	(1)
Leaving Poor and Minority Students Behind	21	(1)
Demographics of Students	21	(1)
Special Needs Children and Youth	21	(2)
Demographics of Teachers	23	(1)
Demographics of Families: An Increasing Number of Nonparents as Taxpayers	24	(1)
Public Schools No Longer Have a Monopoly on Education	24	(1)
Immigrant Education Issues Related to Demographics	25	(1)
Life Expectancy and Population Growth	25	(1)
Are U.S. Residents Represented Fairly in the Schools?	26	(2)
The Awesome Challenge	28	(1)
Inadequate Assumptions about Human Development	28	(1)
Rapid Social Changes	29	(1)
Possible Solutions?	29	(6)
Teachers' Responses to Diversity	31	(1)
Equity Issues for Diverse Students	31	(2)
Innovations that Seem to Be Working	33	(2)
Conclusions	35	(1)
References	35	(4)
The Rights of Children	39	(28)
Children and Youth At-Risk: An Overview	40	(3)
A Promising Approach for Addressing At-Risk Students	42	(1)
Poverty	43	(1)
The Changing Face of Poverty among the Young	44	(1)
The Costs of Poverty among Young Children	45	(1)
Concentration of Poverty	45	(1)
Homelessness	46	(2)
Causes of Homelessness	46	(1)
Consequences of Homelessness	47	(1)
Policy Issues on Homelessness	48	(1)
Violence and Child Development	48	(2)
Violence in the Preschool Years	49	(1)
Violence in the School Years	49	(1)
Child Abuse and Neglect	50	(9)
What Do Abuse and Neglect Mean?	51	(1)
Statistics	52	(1)
Is Child Maltreatment on the Rise?	53	(1)
Characteristics of Victims	53	(1)
Characteristics of Perpetrators	54	(1)
Are Some Children at Greater Risk for Maltreatment than Others?	54	(1)
Prevalence Data: An Issue of Uncertainty	55	(1)
Child Abuse Is Not New	56	(1)
Child Victims and the Law	57	(1)
The Need for Prevention	58	(1)
Implications	59	(1)
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child	59	(2)
Susan M. Hill
Controversy over the Convention	61	(3)
References	64	(3)
SECTION TWO Evolving Notions of Human Development and Learning
Theoretical Shifts in Our Understanding of Children	67	(14)
Changing Worldviews	67	(2)
Changing Theories	69	(3)
Maturational Theory	69	(1)
Behaviorist Theory	70	(1)
Psychoanalytic Theory	70	(1)
Constructivist Theory	71	(1)
The Sociohistorical Approach	71	(1)
Ecological Systems Theory	71	(1)
Multiple Intelligences Theory	72	(1)
Problems with Traditional Psychological Theories	72	(3)
What Shall We Do with Dead, White, Western Men?	73	(1)
What Did These Dead, White, Western Men Really Say?	73	(1)
Critical Theory	74	(1)
Modern and Postmodern Theories	74	(1)
Changing Curricular Practices	75	(3)
Teaching as Transmission	75	(2)
Curriculum as Transaction	77	(1)
Curriculum as Inquiry	77	(1)
Curriculum as Transformation	78	(1)
Conclusions	78	(1)
References	79	(2)
The Controversy over Brain Research	81	(18)
Nina King
Technology and the Study of the Brain	81	(1)
The Brain	82	(1)
Left and Right Hemispheres of the Brain	83	(1)
Brain Cells	83	(1)
Factors Affecting Brain Functioning	84	(5)
Neurotransmitters	84	(1)
Inhibitors	85	(2)
Promoters	87	(2)
Memory	89	(1)
Attention	90	(1)
Critical/Sensitive Periods and Learning	90	(1)
Schools and Teaching	91	(2)
Teaching Strategies for an Enriched Curriculum	93	(1)
Parents and Young Children	94	(1)
Conclusions	94	(2)
References	96	(3)
SECTION THREE Changing Views of Instruction
Developmentally Appropriate Practice	99	(12)
What Is Developmentally Appropriate Practice?	99	(1)
What Is the History of Developmentally Appropriate Practice?	100	(1)
What Is the Research Base for Developmentally Appropriate Practice?	101	(1)
How Has Developmentally Appropriate Practice Influenced Educational Practice?	102	(2)
Accreditation	102	(1)
An Emphasis on the Whole Child	102	(1)
Individualized Instruction	103	(1)
The Acceptance and Use of Children's Prior Knowledge	103	(1)
Active Learning	103	(1)
More In-Depth Study of a Topic	103	(1)
The Importance of Play	103	(1)
Multiage Grouping	104	(1)
The Teacher as Reflective Decision Maker	104	(1)
Parent Involvement	104	(1)
What Are the Criticisms of Developmentally Appropriate Practice?	104	(4)
Problems Related to Children with Disabilities	104	(1)
Criticisms Related to Context	105	(2)
Issues Related to Theory	107	(1)
What Is the Future of Developmentally Appropriate Practice?	108	(1)
References	108	(3)
Progressive Education in the Twenty-First Century	111	(8)
Shelly Hurt-Chumley
The Project Approach	111	(2)
Theme Immersion	113	(1)
The Developmental-Interaction Approach	114	(2)
Current Criticisms of Progressive Education	116	(1)
Conclusions	116	(2)
References	118	(1)
Social Promotion, Retention, and Alternative Possibilities	119	(14)
Janice N. Cotton
Social Promotion	119	(2)
Prevalence of Social Promotion	119	(1)
Negative Effects of Social Promotion	120	(1)
Implications and Findings from Local Social Promotion Policies	120	(1)
Conclusions about Social Promotion	121	(1)
Grade Retention	121	(3)
Prevalence and Cost of Grade Retention	122	(1)
Retention and Academic Achievement	122	(1)
Retention and Social and Health Implications	123	(1)
Conclusions about Retention	123	(1)
Alternatives to Social Promotion and Grade Retention	124	(4)
The Bottom Line	128	(1)
References	129	(4)
SECTION FOUR Issues in Accommodating Differences
Teaching in Inclusive Settings	133	(18)
What Is Inclusion?	134	(1)
How Did We Get Here?	134	(2)
Should We Have Inclusion or Full Inclusion?	135	(1)
Is Inclusion Better than Full Inclusion?	136	(2)
What about Full Inclusion and the Law?	138	(1)
Should We Prepare for Full Inclusion or Just Inclusion?	139	(2)
Preparing the System	139	(1)
Preparing Teachers	140	(1)
Preparing Families	140	(1)
Preparing Students	140	(1)
What Are the Advantages of Full Inclusion?	141	(1)
Academic Advantages	141	(1)
Gains in Socialization	141	(1)
Benefits to Regular Education Students	142	(1)
What Are Barriers to Inclusion?	142	(1)
Changing Roles for Educators	142	(1)
Adverse Effects on Students	143	(1)
What Would Make Full Inclusion Work?	143	(4)
Delivery Models that Work	144	(3)
Are There Any Results that Support or Refute Inclusion?	147	(1)
Where Do We Go from Here?	148	(1)
References	148	(3)
Multicultural Education and the Cultural Curriculum	151	(12)
Misconceptions about Cultural Diversity	152	(3)
Cultural Dilemmas Teachers Face in the Twenty-First Century	155	(3)
How Can We Work with Students Who Are Limited English Proficient?	158	(2)
Who Are Limited English Proficient Students?	159	(1)
Who Teaches Students with Limited English Proficiency?	159	(1)
How Do Students with Limited English Proficiency Learn Best in an English-Speaking Classroom?	159	(1)
What Should We Teach with Regard to Culture?	160	(1)
How Should We Teach with Regard to Culture?	161	(1)
References	161	(2)
Gender Equity and Education	163	(8)
L. Kay Emfinger
Title IX	163	(1)
American Association of University Women	163	(1)
Gender Differences and Genetics	164	(1)
Gender Differences and Intervention in Educational Settings	164	(1)
Intervention Programs Related to Mathematics and Science	165	(2)
Equal Access to Activities and Resources	165	(1)
Practical Ways for Teachers to Provide Equal Access to Materials	166	(1)
Revision of Existing Programs	166	(1)
Revolutionary New Approaches	167	(1)
Attitudes and Values	167	(1)
Self-Concept of Ability	168	(1)
Examples of Subtle Sexism	169	(1)
References	169	(2)
Private Schools	171	(12)
What Is a Private School?	171	(1)
What Is the History of Private Schooling?	172	(1)
Have Public Schools Failed?	173	(1)
What Are the Benefits of Private Education?	173	(1)
How Much Do Private Schools Cost?	174	(1)
How Does Private Schooling Affect Students' Social and Civic Participation?	175	(1)
Do Private Schools Serve the Difficult to Educate?	175	(1)
Are There Differences among Teachers in Private and Public Schools?	176	(1)
What Is the Business Side of Private Schools?	176	(1)
Are Public Schools Really that Bad?	177	(1)
Are School Vouchers Worthwhile?	177	(1)
Is There a Place for Charter Schools?	178	(1)
What about Public Attitudes Concerning Private Higher Education?	179	(1)
Conclusions	180	(1)
References	180	(3)
Index	183