Political Foundations for Becoming a Teacher

by Parkay, Forrest W.

• ISBN13: 9780205424245
• ISBN10: 0205424244
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-01-01
• Publisher: Allyn & Bacon

Summary

PoliticalFoundationsfor Becoming a Teacherintroduces the political trends, issues, and forces that shape public and private education in the United States. Based on the successful introductory textBecoming a Teacher, this breakout text explores topics such as the effects of high-stakes testing, assessments, and standards-based curricula on the classroom, and the battle among political interest groups to influence education. Readable and practical,PoliticalFoundationsfor Becoming a Teacherprovides a realistic picture of how politics affects the teaching profession and suggests how future teachers can take advantage of expanding leadership roles.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1 Politics and U.S. Schools	2	(30)
Why Do You Need to Understand Educational Politics?	4	(5)
Five Dimensions of Educational Politics	5	(2)
Relevant Standards: Political Involvement and Advocacy for Students	7	(1)
Professional Standards and Educational Politics	7	(2)
How Do Educational Politics Place Teachers "in the Line of Fire"?	9	(4)
Teachers' Voices: Thrown to the Wolves, John Flickinger	11	(1)
Teacher Accountability	12	(1)
What Groups Are Competing for Control of Schools in the United States?	13	(4)
Technology in Teaching: How are teachers using the Internet to influence educational policies?	15	(2)
How Is Restructuring Changing How Schools Are Controlled?	17	(6)
School-Based Management	18	(1)
Chicago's Approach to SBM	19	(4)
Case for Reflection: Parental Involvement and Politics	20	(3)
How Is the Privatization Movement Changing School Governance?	23	(4)
Charter Schools	23	(2)
Research on Charter Schools	24	(1)
For-Profit Schools	25	(9)
Edison Schools, Inc.	26	(1)
Education Alternatives, Inc.	26	(1)
Teacher-Owned Schools?	27	(1)
Summary	27	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	28	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	29	(1)
APPENDIX 1.1: Guidelines for Teachers to Think and Act Politically	30	(2)
2 Local, State, Regional, and Federal influences on Education	32	(28)
How Does the Local Community Influence Schools?	34	(8)
Local School District	34	(2)
Local Educational Politics	36	(1)
Local Community Power Structures	36	(1)
Local School Board	36	(2)
Makeup of School Boards	37	(1)
Criticism of School Boards	37	(1)
Superintendent of Schools	38	(2)
Superintendents and Local Educational Politics	38	(6)
Case for Reflection: Teachers vs. the Board of Education	39	(1)
The Role of Parents	40	(2)
Teachers' Voices: The Importance of Partnerships, Karen M. Caruso	41	(1)
What Powers and Influence Do States Have in Governing Schools?	42	(8)
Technology in Teaching: Can the Internet enhance school-home communication and parental involvement?	43	(1)
The Role of the State Government in Education	44	(3)
The State Legislature	44	(2)
The State Courts	46	(1)
The Governor	46	(1)
State Board of Education	47	(2)
State Department of Education	49	(1)
Chief State School Officer	49	(1)
How Do Regional Education Agencies Assist Schools?	50	(1)
How Does the Federal Government Influence Education?	51	(5)
Federal Initiatives	51	(1)
The Impact of Presidential Policies	52	(2)
Advice to the President	53	(1)
U.S. Department of Education	54	(2)
Tension among Federal, State, and Local Roles	56	(1)
Summary	56	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	57	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	57	(2)
APPENDIX 2.1: Typical Organizational Structure for a Medium-Size School District (20,000 pupils)	59	(1)
3 Educational Philosophies in Conflict	60	(40)
Why Do You Need to Understand Educational Philosophy?	62	(1)
What Is the Nature of Philosophy?	63	(1)
What Determines Your Educational Philosophy?	64	(6)
Relevant Standards: Developing Philosophical "Habits of Mind"	65	(1)
Beliefs about Teaching and Learning	65	(1)
Beliefs about Students	66	(1)
Beliefs about Knowledge	67	(1)
Beliefs about What Is Worth Knowing	68	(2)
Case for Reflection: What Knowledge Is of Most Worth?	69	(1)
What Are the Branches of Philosophy?	70	(5)
Metaphysics	70	(1)
Epistemology	70	(1)
Axiology	71	(4)
Ethics	72	(1)
Aesthetics	72	(1)
Logic	72	(3)
Teachers' Voices: Dollars and Points, Marcus Goodyear	73	(2)
What Are Five Modern Philosophical Orientations to Teaching?	75	(11)
Perennialism	75	(2)
Perennialist Educational Philosophers	76	(1)
Portrait of a Perennialist Teacher	76	(1)
Essentialism	77	(2)
The Back-to-Basics Movement	78	(1)
Portrait of an Essentialist Teacher	78	(1)
Progressivism	79	(3)
Progressive Strategies	79	(1)
Technology in Teaching: How can the Internet enhance your study of and interest in the philosophy of education?	80	(1)
Portrait of a Progressive Teacher	80	(2)
Existentialism	82	(2)
Two Existentialist Views	82	(1)
Portrait of an Existentialist Teacher	83	(1)
Social Reconstructionism	84	(2)
Social Reconstructionism and Progressivism	84	(1)
Portrait of a Social Reconstructionist Teacher	85	(1)
What Psychological Orientations Have Influenced Teaching Philosophies?	86	(6)
Humanistic Psychology	86	(2)
The Influence of Rousseau and Pestalozzi	86	(1)
Self-Actualization of Students	87	(1)
Portrait of a Humanistic Teacher	88	(1)
Behaviorism	88	(2)
Founders of Behavioristic Psychology	89	(1)
Portrait of a Behaviorist Teacher	90	(1)
Constructivism	90	(13)
Portrait of a Constructivist Teacher	91	(1)
How Can You Develop Your Educational Philosophy?	92	(1)
Summary	93	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	94	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	95	(1)
APPENDIX 3.1: Philosophic Inventory	96	(4)
4 Legal Issues in U.S. Education	100	(54)
Relevant Standards: Education and the Law	103	(1)
Why Do You Need a Professional Code of Ethics?	103	(2)
Ethical Teaching Attitudes and Practices	104	(1)
Ethical Dilemmas in the Classroom and School	104	(1)
What Are Your Legal Rights as a Teacher?	105	(8)
Certification	106	(1)
Teachers' Rights to Nondiscrimination	106	(1)
Teaching Contracts	107	(1)
Due Process in Tenure and Dismissal	108	(2)
Academic Freedom	110	(5)
Famous Cases	111	(1)
States' Rights	112	(1)
Do Student Teachers Have the Same Rights?	113	(2)
What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Teacher?	115	(11)
Avoiding Tort Liability	115	(5)
Teachers' Voices: Opening the Door to Possibilities, Mary Hanson	116	(1)
Negligence	117	(3)
Educational Malpractice	120	(1)
Reporting Child Abuse	120	(3)
Observing Copyright Laws	123	(3)
Photocopies	123	(1)
Videotapes	124	(1)
Computer Software	124	(1)
E-mail and the Internet	125	(1)
Publishing on the Internet	125	(3)
Technology in Teaching: How does the Digital Millennium Copyright Act apply to distance-learning programs?	126	(1)
What Are the Legal Rights of Students and Parents?	126	(11)
Case for Reflection: Parental Objection to the Curriculum	127	(1)
Freedom of Expression	128	(3)
Censorship	128	(1)
Dress Codes	129	(2)
Due Process in Suspension and Expulsion	131	(1)
Reasonable Search and Seizure	132	(3)
Privacy	135	(1)
Cameras in Classrooms	136	(1)
Students' Rights to Nondiscrimination	136	(1)
What Are Some Issues in the Legal Rights of School Districts?	137	(9)
Corporal Punishment	137	(1)
Sexual Harassment	138	(3)
Religious Expression	141	(2)
Guidelines for Religious Activities in Schools	143	(1)
Home Schooling	143	(3)
Summary	146	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	147	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	147	(3)
APPENDIX 4.1: NEA Code of Ethics for Teachers	150	(2)
APPENDIX 4.2: NEA Bill of Rights for Student Teachers	152	(2)
5 Competition for Educational Resources	154	(32)
How Are Schools Financed in the United States?	156	(8)
The Challenge of Equitable Funding	157	(2)
Sources of Funding	159	(5)
Local Funding	159	(2)
State Funding	161	(1)
Federal Funding	162	(1)
Support for Education in Other Countries	163	(1)
What Are Some Trends in Funding for Equity and Excellence?	164	(12)
Teachers' Voices: Why We Stay (A Letter to the Next President), Jane Butters	165	(2)
Tax Reform and Redistricting	167	(2)
Case for Reflection: "Rich" and "Poor" School Districts	168	(1)
Vertical Equity	169	(1)
School Choice	170	(1)
Voucher Systems	171	(2)
Evaluation of Voucher Programs	172	(1)
Corporate-Education Partnerships	173	(3)
Relevant Standards: Obtaining Additional Resources from the Community	175	(1)
Community-School Partnerships	176	(1)
What Is the Condition of U.S. School Buildings?	176	(3)
Deteriorating School Buildings	176	(1)
Financing School Construction and Renovation	177	(1)
The Need to Improve U.S. School Buildings	177	(2)
Building Deterioration	178	(1)
Increasing Enrollments	178	(1)
Influence of Facilities on Learning	178	(1)
Quest for Equitable Resources	178	(1)
Increased Use of Technology	178	(1)
The Cost of Improving School Buildings	179	(1)
Do All Students Have Equal Access to Technology?	179	(4)
Funding for Computers and Technical Support	179	(1)
Commercial Computer Labs	180	(1)
Access to Technology for All Students	180	(9)
A "Digital Divide"?	180	(1)
Computers and Gender	181	(15)
Technology in Teaching: What are the characteristics of "high tech" schools?	183	(1)
Summary	183	(1)
Key Terms and Concepts	184	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	184	(2)
6 Standards, Testing, and Accountability in U.S. Schools	186	(30)
What Role Will Standards Play in Your Classroom?	189	(3)
Perspectives on Standards	190	(2)
Teachers' Voices: Rigorous Mondays, Eva Benevento	191	(1)
What Is Standards-Based Education?	192	(5)
Content and Performance Standards	194	(1)
Standards Developed by Professional Associations	194	(2)
Social Issues and Changing Values	196	(1)
Aligning Curricula and Textbooks with Standards	196	(1)
Curriculum Frameworks	197	(1)
What Controversies Surround the Effort to Raise Standards?	197	(5)
The Advocates: Higher Standards Will Improve Education	197	(2)
The Opposition: Higher Standards Will Not Improve Education	199	(3)
How Are Schools and Teachers Held Accountable for Student Learning?	202	(3)
Relevant Standards: Accepting Responsibility for Students' Learning	203	(1)
Adequate Yearly Progress	203	(2)
Technology in Teaching: How are computer-adaptive online testing systems used to deliver statewide assessment tests?	204	(1)
Testing for Teachers?	205	(1)
How Are High-Stakes Tests Changing Education?	205	(6)
Consequences of High-Stakes Tests	206	(1)
High-Stakes Tests and Educator Accountability	207	(1)
Preparing for High-Stakes Tests	208	(2)
Case for Reflection: Teaching to the Test	209	(1)
Legal Challenges of "High-Stakes" Tests	210	(1)
Debate over High-Stakes Tests	211	(1)
What Does the Future Hold for You as a Teacher?	211	(2)
A Preferred Future for Education	212	(1)
Summary	213	(2)
Key Terms and Concepts	215	(1)
Reflective Application Activities	215	(1)
Glossary	216	(6)
References	222	(9)
Index	231