Understanding Schooling and Social Change (HONR398, S13)

January 17…The Purposes Public Schooling

Have you thought about the role of schools in the U.S.? What do you make of Counts’ challenge to use public schools to remake society, given what you know of contemporary politics?

January 22… Labaree’s Competing Purposes of Schools

Are there any major purposes of schooling left out by Labaree? What do you make of his conclusion (Is there any hope to push back against the predominant notion of education as a private good?)?

January 31…Public Schooling in the U.S.: The Beginnings

Comment on Jefferson’s plan for public education, particularly on what his plan says about what TJ saw as the purpose of education. How do Jefferson’s aims compare to Mann’s aims? Feel free to also consider the plans’ shortcomings, but do your best to keep things in historical perspective.

February 5…Schooling and Social Change in an Unjust Society

After reading a bit from Dubois and Washington, where do you come down on their disagreements regarding the best way to educate African-Americans in the post-civil War U.S.? Does their debate have any relevance today (for African-Americans or other marginalized groups)?

February 7…Progressive Approaches

From what you can tell, how would Dewey have reacted to the Brooklyn Free School?

February 12…Qualitative Research

How do Lincoln and Guba’s ideas compare to your understanding of the nature of research?

February 14…Capitalism and Freedom

Topic TBD

February 21…The Contemporary Scene (Demerath & Lipman)

React to Demerath's depiction of the "Wilton Way." Did you recognize anything from your own schooling? The author draws directly on Labaree--do you see any connections to any other readings?

March 12...Relating the Mini-interviews to the Theory

Think about your mini-interviews. Can you see any ways in which the theory we read illuminates your participant's comments? Are there any ways in which your participant's comments contradict the theory we have read? Any surprises?

March 21...Relating the Interviews to the Theory

Space for General Public Comments

Use this space to extend the dialogue regarding what we are doing in class or to start a conversation about anything you deem relevant to the course. There is no required posting here, it’s just another way for you to be in touch with our class community…use it if it’s helpful otherwise, no worries.