Abstract This paper examines "Preparing for Power: America's Elite BoardingSchools", which was first published in 1985 and was marketed again two years later in a reprint edition published in 1987 by Basic Books. The paper shows that the authors, Peter Cookson and Caroline Persell, visited more than sixty American boardingschools as they conducted research and gathered institutional, student, and instructor data concerning the curricula, class composition and goals of these elite schools.
From the Paper "Preparing for Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools was first published in 1985 and was marketed again two years later in a reprint edition published in 1987 by Basic Books. The authors, Peter Cookson and Caroline Persell, visited more than sixty American boarding schools as they conducted research and gathered institutional, student, and instructor data concerning the curricula, class composition, and goals of these elite schools."
Abstract The paper discusses the Indian boardingschools that represent an early attempt to subjugate the Native American culture. The author believes that the schools disappeared due to reports of mistreatment of the children and financial concerns. The author states that the schools should serve as a reminder that our nation has learned much about cultural diversity.
From the Paper "Boarding schools first became vogue prior to the American Civil War. During this time, idealistic reformers put forth the idea that Indians could become "civilized" with the proper education and treatment. Prior to this time, most white Americans had seen the American Indian population with great fear. Captain Richard Henry Pratt was one of the leading proponents of this movement and believed that he could "kill the Indian and save the man." "
This paper discusses the history of the American Indian boardingschools and their influence in developing "pan-Indianism", which connected individuals from different tribes.
Abstract This paper explains that the "Friends of the American Indians" believed that education was the only answer to the "Indian problem" to assimilate Native Americans into Euro-American society. The author points out that, whereas, the mission schools were traditionally located on the reservations, the "retraining" process meant that the government-influenced boardingschools were located off of the reservations, usually many miles away from families, so that many children were not able to see their families for years at a time. The paper relates that, although the tribal traditionalists strongly were opposed to families sending their children to distant schools to learn the "white man's" ways, grinding poverty and the overwhelming hopelessness of reservation life caused many Indian parents to consider the possibility of sending their children to find a more prosperous life.
From the Paper "Many times the child was not told ahead of time that they would be leaving home to attend the boarding school. This resulted in a child resisting or fleeing home and hiding in the woods or with sympathetic relatives. The child might also runaway upon reaching the boarding school. One student's account is recorded at the Clark Historical Library (1999). He remembered that on the day that he left, his mother pack his lunch, simply handed it to him, and sent him off to a day school he was attending. When he arrived at the school, he was then told that he was to leave immediately. He and several other children were told to get into a truck prepared with a wire cage. The cage was to keep them from fleeing, and they were then driven to the nearest railroad station."
Abstract This paper first examines the superintendent's role in the education system as it pertains to public accountability. The paper then explains the responsibilities of the superintendent. The paper also discusses the responsibilities of the schoolboard, including planning, setting policy, and evaluating results. The paper lastly discusses how the schoolboard and the superintendent specifically work together to ensure the efficiency of the school system.
From the Paper "Considering the heavy responsibilities that the school superintendent must shoulder on behalf of his or her school, it should be obvious that there is an entity that carries even heavier responsibilities to support the job of the school superintendent. Public accountability requires virtually perfect planning after all. Fortunately for the school superintendent, the responsibility of major planning falls on the shoulders of the local school board. As a matter of fact, it is the local school board that hires the school superintendent ("PSBA's Guide for School Board Candidates in Pennsylvania," 2007). Other responsibilities of the local school board may include the following:"
The following in-depth paper discusses ways in which schools can improve their own public confidence in a specific school district including communication between schools and community.
Abstract This report discusses schools and community relations with reference to four different models proposed by Grunig and Hunt for public relations: Press agency/publicity, information, the two-way asymmetric model and the two-way symmetric model. The author contends that it is imperative for a schoolboard to work for the betterment of students. This paper stresses the importance of having the students' interests first, when coming up with ways to improve community relations. It also deals with ways in which to improve relations between staff and board members, parents and children by building forum structures in order to discuss problems. In addition ways in which to ensure quality education and strict discipline are also proposed amongst other issues.
From the Paper "The schools in the district should do an effective job and let the public know about the success and challenges faced by the school. The confidence of the public in the schools should be increased, by encouraging more residents of the school district to participate in the school decisions. It was determined that education is rated as the highest concern by the public-higher than crime and taxes. The schools should make the public aware of the difficulties experienced in the classroom such as: disruptive behavior by students, students disrespect for authority and resistance of the student towards learning. Regular school district meetings may help the school get suggestions from the public in handling these problems. Schools should be personalized to suit the community that it serves. All involved should be aware of their individual roles in the operation of the various schools in the district. Educators should collectively try to gain the public and legislative confidence and support. Educators should stop fighting among themselves and form better working relationships with the business community in the area."
Abstract This paper looks at the mounting financial strains facing today's independent/private schools, boards, trustees, headmasters and similar school leaders and how they should be able to execute the necessary administrative and structural changes to negotiate today's financial obstacle courses. The writer argues that they will fall by the wayside, as is the recent trend for most independent schools if they refuse to adapt.
From the Paper "Present day and emerging challenges to the financial viability of independent schools will likely require changes to the structure and arrangements of independent school cultures. In preparing for the challenges of change, independent school boards and headmasters and the relationship between them. In particular, boards of trustees will have to express stronger, more directive and explicit objectives so that heads will have clearer mandates to change entrenched arrangements. By doing so, a board will confirm its direct responsibility for the school's well-being, and it will become more realistic to hold the head accountable for leading the school along the trajectory which the board desires."
Abstract The paper discusses in detail the Brown v. Board of Education lawsuit that ended segregation in American schools. The paper shows how this case may have been the most important political, social and legal event in America's twentieth century history. The paper paints a picture of how the Brown v. Board of Education case resulted in a more egalitarian America.
From the Paper "America is a place filled with many different people, belonging to many different cultures. Although everyone is supposedly created equal, this does not always hold true. This has been a constant problem throughout American history. Segregation makes this fact even more obvious. Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, Kansas sought to rectify this incongruence. Segregation is defined as an intentional setting apart of students by enrolling them in isolated public schools solely on the basis of race; or the socially-patterned separation of people, with or without explicit sanction (Orfield &Eaton, 1996). Brown v. Board of Education outlawed all forms of government-imposed segregation (Burns, 2002). The success of Brown removed a legal barrier to equitable educational opportunities for all American citizens. Brown v. Board of Education is one the signal legal events of our time (Jost, 2004)."
Abstract This paper examines how, in J.D. Salinger's classic novel, "The Catcher in the Rye", the narrator is a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield, who comes from a rich family and moves from one boardingschool to another as he is either expelled for failing classes or gets tired of the school. It looks at how, at first glance, it seems as though Holden is a normal teenage boy. However, as the reader gets deeper into the story, he displays certain self-destructive and pathological qualities that separate him from the norm. It presents a critical essay of the novel, while attempting to determine what separates Holden from the typical teenager.
From the Paper "During Holden's trip, he comes across many people of many ages, but his skepticism about the sincerity of people and his fear of phonies makes it hard for him to establish genuine contacts with anyone. According to miller (1965, p. 9): "The journey becomes a combination of nightmare and burlesque where horror and comedy mix in inexplicable fashion." Salinger uses a mixture of Holden's cynicism and the use of features typical of teenage vernacular spoken in New York in the 1950s, and strong personal idiosyncrasies (Costello 1990, p. 45) to make the reader question whether there is something wrong with Holden or if he is just behaving like a normal teen."
Abstract Racial segregation in the 50s was a problem in public schools. "Brown vs. Board of Education" was the beginning of the Supreme Court recognizing that all people are equal.
Abstract This paper examines the idea of school choice and explains how it will be detrimental to society as a whole. It explores the historical side of school choice and shows the legal importance of school choice as well as other legal precedents that correlate with school choice. It strongly asserts that a choice in schools does not necessarily guarantee an increase in school quality.
From the Paper "Public schools in America are obviously inadequate and doing a poor job of properly educating America's youth. The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a nation and a people (Worsnop, 1991). America's schools have been plagued with problems for years. Overworked, under-qualified teachers, and a lack of resources and/or funding are only a few of these problems. Many propose that school choice will be the magical solution to these problems. School choice is a broad term used to describe a wide variety of political, policy, and practical student enrollment options available to parents and the educators and who manage the public school K-12 systems throughout the United States (Cookson, 2004)."
This paper is a review of literature and a proposal for research concerning superintendents of small school districts, their relationship between ethics, mandates, laws, and regulations and the process of funding school districts.
Abstract The paper states that there is a critical need for research into the relationships between alternate patterns of educational governance and the ability to mobilize human energy. The paper recommends that research should be done to show how schools can restructure many of their programs to meet the laws and regulations while meeting the needs of the schools. The paper concludes that the hypothesis of this survey research will illustrate how funds and grants should be issued, related to the individual needs of the school and the relationship with the superintendent.
From the Paper "The top ten factors that influence teachers applying for administration positions are relationship among the board, administration, and teachers; salary, community support, quality of community life, impact of the administrative position on home life, reputation of superintendent, poor working conditions, and the control of the board and the superintendent. Basically this shows that the decisions and actions of the superintendent affect stakeholders. The role of the superintendent is an important one when it comes to the district personnel and the shared vision of the school."
Abstract This paper discusses how residential schooling affected Aboriginal or Inuit women in Quebec. The paper begins by describing Quebec's First Nations and how the white population related to them. It then discusses Quebec's residential 'Indian' schools, their ideology and peculiarity. The paper also describes the original purposes of these schools and the impacts that they had on families.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Contemporary Issues
Quebec's First Nations
Quebec Residential 'Indian' Schools Ideology and Particularity
Assimilation versus Other Motivations
Impacts upon Families
Last Remarks
From the Paper "Cultural revival, as a positive set of developments among Aboriginal Canadians across Canada, has had different imprints upon Aboriginal women, Native womanhood of yore universally glorified, little room left for the reality of Native women whose families, by choice, were indeed Christians, their ways of life different, those for whom the attendance of residential school could involve relatively little adjustment, some of their experiences of school remarkably positive towards continuing involvement in Roman Catholic, Anglican or other Christian activities. For instance, Kim Anderson's scholarship is a contribution to explaining patterns of Aboriginal society as could be effectively removed by experiences such as residential education in schools that did reject the culture from which students came. (2000) However, where are the stories of thousands of Aboriginal women in particular and especially those of Quebec? Is the testimony of women who were not traumatized by their experiences of boarding school of no significance? What of those sent to parochial schools by their families in keeping with other Quebecois women? Where are their stories of residential education? What do they now recommend for the education of Aboriginal youth? Why are these quite usual and numerous Aboriginal Canadians invisible in the literature of Native Studies?"
Abstract Based upon the PBS Special "School: The Story of American Public Education," this paper takes a close look at how schools were formed. From Noah Webster wanting to change textbooks to erase much of the English teachings and make them more "American" to the advances in civil rights and the signing of Title IX, this paper gives an overview of how major changes helped to shape the mission statements of all public schools.
From the Paper "Schools were considered extremely important prior to and just after the war for American independence ended. As a way of helping to meld the thirteen colonies into a united, independent nation, Noah Webster emphasized the need to remove British texts from the few schools that were currently serving the more privileged and ensure that American students would be taught American ideals."
Abstract The recent spate of school shootings has focused attention on violent behavior among teenagers. However, little attention has been given to another insidious and more common form of violence among young people -- the rise in teenagers committing suicide. This paper looks at the silent epidemic of teen suicide and the role schools could play in addressing this issue. The first part of the paper is an overview of teen suicide, looking at the scope of the problem and main causes of suicide among young people. In the second part, the paper looks at the changing role schools have played in preventing suicide and examines the current suicide prevention programs in place. Finally, the paper studies the barriers that stand in the way of such programs and suggests solutions to the problems.
From the Paper "The advent of two-income households and single parent families has changed the role schools play in the lives of young people. After all, many adolescents spend at least one-third of the day in school, or more for those involved in extra-curricular activities (King, 132). This has led to a broader definition of the term in loco parentis, the principle of temporary parental power originally conferred by Roman citizens on their children's Greek teachers. In the United States, writes Portner, this power to discipline students also carried a corresponding responsibility to keep children from harm. (Portner, ?Suicide,?)."
Abstract In this article, the writer looks at residential schools in Canada. The writer explains that residential schools were boardingschools for native Canadian children in which the authorities and churches tried to make the children more 'white'. Further, the writer notes that they were not allowed to speak their native languages and they did not learn any of their traditions and culture. The writer also points out that many children were abused and this still has consequences today.
From the Paper "Residential schools are a dark chapter in Canadian history. It is an example of a state-sanctioned mistreatment of an entire population and total disregard for a culture and a way of life. Furthermore the impact of residential schools is still felt today and many of those who attended these schools bear scars even now. Residential schools were schools for Native Canadian children initiated well before the Confederation. The Government of Canada estimates that "there are 86,000 people alive today who attended Indian residential schools"."
