Abstract The paper examines how, in Canada, the state plays a leading role in both planning curricula and enforcing attendance at school. The paper describes how this role is growing and becoming more intrusive. This paper analyzes this phenomenon and argues that the state should not play this leading role in planning curricula and enforcing attendance at school. The writer argues that it would serve the interests of learners better if this role were to diminish, rather than grow. The writer concludes that the control needs to pass to teachers, to parents, and even to the children themselves.
Abstract This paper discusses the use of new technology, specifically computers and the Internet, in education. The paper looks at how this technology offers teachers an effectual and informative way to enhance educational instruction and variety for their students. The paper also discusses the factors that influence the effectiveness of the incorporation of technology into classroom curricula.
From the Paper "Similarly, Fleming, Motamedi, and May (2007) found that pre-service teachers who had experience with technology in college would more likely be favorable of including high-tech instruction. The purpose of their research was to see if modeling by university professors and practicum and cooperating teachers was related to pre-service teachers' perceptions of their computer technology skills and if pre-service teachers' use of technology in academic and other settings was related to those perceptions. In the study, at the end of the semester during which they completed their student teaching, 79 pre-service teacher education students responded to a questionnaire concerning their training experience and computer technology skills. The results suggested that the more extensively pre-service teachers observe computer technology being used and the more they use computer technology in and out of the student teaching classroom, the more likely they would be to report competence in the computer technology skills. It appears by these findings that as pre-service teachers observe models and obtain hands-on experience with computer technology, they will feel more proficient with their skills and feel more comfortable in including this approach in their daily instruction."
Abstract The paper presents an examination of current failures in U.S. high school curricula. It provides suggestions of how these curricula could be improved to help high school students after graduation gain better jobs and education and to save our future.
From the Paper "A study by the Education Trust found that fewer than half of high school students who pursue secondary education have completed a full college-preparatory program. This could be one reason for those poor numbers. Additionally, it was found that overworked guidance counselors typically don't have the time to help all students choose their courses wisely. Finally, the study confirmed that a lack of alignment between the high school curriculum and the kind of knowledge and skills required for success in both the workplace and the postsecondary system exists, contributing heavily to the problem."
Argues for prison educational programs that incorporate establishing and maintaining more meaningful parental involvement on the part of incarcerated fathers.
Abstract This paper stresses that children of incarcerated fathers most often become incarcerated themselves because they do not have the involvement of their fathers in their upbringing. The author recommends that educational programs for incarcerated fathers be coordinated with the curricula of their children so that they might share and reinforce positively their academic experiences. The paper relates that the role of the social worker within this initiative would include primary responsibility for coordination of curricula and the promotion of the benefits of program participation, both among incarcerated populations and the families outside.
Table of Contents:
Introduction - Statement of the Problem
Proposal for Solution through Educational Initiative
Prisoner Education Programs and the Benefits of Increased Parental Involvement
Prisoner Education Programs and the Motivating Potential for Prisoner Cooperation
Assessment of Proposed Initiative in Relation to Impact on Social Workers
Conclusion
From the Paper "Ultimately, the successful implementation of this initiative will also impact on the responsibilities of social workers, by their efforts to increasing the motivation of prisoners to cooperate and take full advantage of the opportunities that fall within the professional responsibilities of the social worker to facilitate. As will be discussed in much greater detail in subsequent sections, social workers will play an essential role at the program design and development stage, in particular."
Abstract This paper examines the school-to-work programs which encourage vocational development in students. It looks at how school-to-work stretches the boundaries of traditional curricula and offers kids the opportunity to gain adult responsibilities. It reviews two articles, "An Avenue to High Academic Standards" by Lynn Olson and "School-to-Work will Train, not Educate" by Phyllis Schlafly and analyzes the arguments both authors put over for and against school-to-work programs.
From the Paper "Schlafly's arguments and fears about school-to-work raise pertinent issues that can and should be addressed. With school-to-work, care must be taken to avoid potential problems. However, school-to-work should not be scrapped altogether because of the potential of bureaucratic corruption. Rather, Olson proves that when properly implemented, school-to-work helps American students become more focused and less disillusioned by the educational process. By demonstrating that mathematics, science, and languages have direct application in the real world, school-to-work can improve morale and motivation among students. School-to-work can particularly benefit those students who show no interest in pursuing a liberal arts degree for the sake of a piece of paper."
Tags: vocational, development, curricula, motivation, students
Abstract This paper explains why it is so important to continue to teach the arts and humanities disciplines in school and details what the negative consequences would be if they were eliminated from school curricula.
From the Paper "To better understand the aftermath of the exclusion of both or either it is vital to recognize and appreciate the magnitude of the impact they have on both human life and its surrounding circumstances. One music professor feels "that arts can give students a wide perspective based on historical past and a cultural understanding not possible in a more traditional course" (1). Thus elimination of these forms is likely to engineer the upcoming generation as comparatively less culturally well versed and accepting."
Abstract This paper explains that poetry is a tool to stimulate creative problem solving, build an ability for creative expression, help a child develop literacy skills, and learn other subjects through the imaginative, resourceful use of poetry. The author points out that a 'persona poem' is a poem that is written in the first person; the writer imagines that he or she is an animal, a movie star, a politician, or anything or anyone he or she is not. The paper stresses that innovation and doing the unexpected are extremely important for elementary school teachers when coaxing students to love and use poetry throughout their curricula.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The American Poetry and Literacy Project
The Persona Poem
Using Persona Poetry in Social Studies, Music, Math, Science, and Art
Conclusion
From the Paper "To move to another area of study, math; the student could write a persona poem pretending to be Albert Einstein's pencil sharpener. Imagine all the work that sharpener must do ? since Einstein was said to go through a number of pencils each day during his mathematical research and formula writing ? and imagine all the grinding sounds and shavings, too. Or, alternatively, what would it be like to be the number ?1?? Would that be a grand feeling of winning ("number one" can mean the best, the first, the top choice), or would being "number one" seem like a person had a long way to go to get to ?50??"
Abstract This paper uses Elizabeth Ammons' "Expanding the Canon of American Realism" to examine why Stephen Crane's "Maggie" and Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle" should both be included in the education curricula. The paper suggests that the inclusion of these two works will help teach a multicultural point of view.
From the Paper "In "Expanding the Canon of American Realism", Elizabeth Ammons argues that the canon of American realism needs to reflect its social context of multiculturalism. The canon of realism is defined by teachers who choose what texts they want to teach about, therefore the canon has been composed of works that are considered highly teachable. In that respect, it is subjective and can just as easily be changed according to one teacher's idea of teachability as another's. Elizabeth Ammons takes the..."
Tags: Elizabeth Ammons, Upton Sinclair, The Jungle, Stephen Crane, Maggie, realism, multicultural, Expanding the Canon of American Realism
Abstract This paper looks at nursing and obstetrical nursing and investigates what agencies police and design the curricula for these fields. The State Boards of Nursing and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission are examined and the policies and standards that they set are discussed as well as the required curriculum content and development they oversee. Their impact upon curriculum development and revision is also reviewed.
From the Paper "In the arena of nursing, there are so many specialties, so many fields, so many types of nurses, that there must be governing and regulatory bodies. Without such organizations that regulate and control nursing and nursing education programs, there would not be a singular and uniform set of expectations for this nation's nursing professionals. The two organizations that will be discussed in regard to how they influence the regulation of nursing, and more specifically how they could influence obstetrical nursing, are the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission (NLNAC). The first of the two governing agencies that this paper will discuss and investigate is the NCSBN."
Abstract This paper discusses the need to convert the Georgia University system's Spanish departments to teaching a more modern, currently used version of the Spanish language. It explores the teaching of Spanish in the American education system, particularly the history of teaching Spanish in the Georgia University system. The paper examines immigration, business, world trade organizations and society in the quest to illuminate the more recent trends in the Spanish language being used in America. It then discusses the need for the Georgia University system to adopt textbooks, curriculum and classes that dovetail with these trends. Finally, the paper attempts to provide evidence for change and examines how such change can benefit the state's university students and ultimately American business relations.
Table of Contents:
Abstract
Synopsis
Executive Summary
Introduction
The Concept Of Linguistic Legitimacy
Critical Curriculum Development in the Foreign Language
Classroom
Problem Posing
Holism And The Critical Curriculum: The Role Of Interdisciplinary Units
Critical Assessment And Evaluation
Implications For Foreign Language Pedagogy
Questions For Reflection And Discussion
Conceptualizing Language Rights
Violations Of Language Rights
The Nature And Purposes Of Language Planning
Ideologies Of Language Policy
The Foreignness Agenda
Why Spanglish or Mexico not Spain language?
History
Introduction
The Research Agenda
Socio-historical Themes
Immigration
Racialization
Gender, Ethnicity, and Race in School and Work Outcomes of Second-Generation Mexican Americans
Conclusion
From the Paper "One of the things that a university strives to do is to provide an education that will benefit the graduate in a positive manner after the graduation ceremony. For many years Georgia universities have provided foreign language courses to assist their students in developing the skills they will need after they graduate and enter the career or field of their choice. The immigration population in Georgia with regard to Hispanics is one of the fastest growing in America and the time has come to redesign the Spanish language courses that are being taught."
"NAFTA, American business and public forums are all working with and involved in the Spanish that is spoken in Mexico and Latin America, while the universities continue to instruct in European style Spanish. Evidence is strong and the time has come to incur the cost of choosing new textbooks, developing new curriculums and teaching Spanish in a style that will be useful to the American business world."
Abstract The paper explains that hidden curricula can be divided into two types: conscious, such as the religious tracts;and unconscious, which tends to be more influential simply because it is not easily discovered. The author reviews the research of Jean Anyon who studied elementary schools in communities of differing social class to discover the hidden curricula at work. The paper examines four schools from four different social classes. In the executive elite school, children are given knowledge of and practice in manipulating the socially legitimated tools of analysis of systems; this was not give to other schools.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Class as a Comprehensive Example of Hidden Curricula Forlorn Hopes, Prescription for Delinquency: The Working Class School
Birthing Bureaucrats: The Middle Class School
Pretty Good Expectations: The Affluent Professional School
Getting Used To Power: The Executive Elite School
From the Paper "Jackson seems to have believed that the hidden curriculum theory can be applied to many explanations for differences in educational achievement, including curricula based on such things as class, gender and ethnicity. In the current age, the term "No child left behind" is tossed about as a model for education. And yet, educational budgets for public schools are being cut to extraordinarily low levels due to budget cuts both nationally and locally. It would seem that the hidden curriculum based on social class might currently be at the forefront of impactful hidden curricula. A study of this area will shed light as well on what teacher expectations; student self-concept and more contribute to the hidden curricula and the educational results, especially in the public school system most affected by budgetary crises."
Tags: achievement, social-class, self-concept, manipulating, research
Abstract Perhaps more than any other debate in education, the study of language brings up questions of power and identity. How teachers and classmates view the home language of students and their families plays a major role in teachers' expectations and respect for a student's culture, as well as how easily the student will be able to learn and meet long-term educational goals. The paper shows that solving the complex social and economic problems in the U.S. that limit the educational opportunities of African Americans, particularly males, is not an easy task. Still, many educators are introducing new practices targeted specifically to the unique needs of this group. The paper shows that many researchers agree that one of the first steps that must be taken in advancing the educational level of African-American students is to implement Ebonics into inner city curricula. This paper examines the role of Ebonics in cultural identity in an effort to determine whether or not Ebonics should be implemented in classrooms or curricula.
From the Paper "By implementing Ebonics into school curriculums, teachers are fine-tuning the learning process towards the unique needs of African American students, rather than drilling them on the proper use of grammar and dialect. For example, teachers could use mini-lessons according to the dialect learning needs that students demonstrate. If the students agree that Standard English is appropriate for classroom interaction and for writing, lessons like these would help students reach their language development goals."
Tags: Standard, English, Proficiency, SEP, AAVE, Kwanzaa, Maat
Abstract This paper attempts to demonstrate that private schools succeed at preparing graduates to succeed after graduation, whereas public schools do not. The paper puts forth the hypothesis that private schools teach their students to succeed, not because of a great deal of money poured into education, but because the schools are free to teach the curricula they choose and because they prepare students to return to their own cultures and succeed. The paper further hypothesizes that public schools, on the other hand, are not free to teach curricula not aimed at improving standardized test scores, and the successful public school student is not prepared to return to his or her culture in a trade, but to transition out of it into an anachronistic academic culture.
Introduction
Hypothesis
Review of the Literature
Education and Culture
Teaching Dispositions
Outmoded Educational Model
Would Vo-tech be a Better Public School Goal?
Developing the Person Instead of the Mind
Opposition to Change in Public Schools
Alternatives to Public and Private School
Methodology
From the Paper "There are two, or possibly even three, co-existent educational systems in the United States. The largest of these is the public education system, followed by the private schools and increasingly popular home-schooling. The third system will be mentioned only tangentially, as the real problems with U.S. education are considered to reside in the public schools. In recent decades, there have been various schemes put forth regarding vouchers for families who want to send their children to private schools but cannot afford the fees; none of these has borne fruit. In any case, it is doubtful that the private schools could absorb the numbers of students who would want to attend if vouchers were a reality. The problem with the public schools has been identified by most of the public and by many researchers as one of curriculum."
Tags: teachers, education, teaching, to, the, test, classroom, taught, educational, format
Abstract This study examines the effects of leadership and leadership theories on the educational continuum and specifically on the effect it has on the quality of education. The study uses a mixed methodology to investigate various leadership theories and examines their effect on the quality of higher education. The research shows that the delivery of educational leadership services by colleges and universities and the impact of traditional curricula on prospective educators continues to be debated and refined. The impact of additional unfunded mandates from the federal No Child Left Behind Act is profound, with many low-performing schools being threatened with the loss of their funding if they fail to achieve at least minimum academic achievement standards.
Contents:
Chapter 1: Introduction
Background
Statement of the Problem
Purpose of the Study
Significance of the Study
Nature of the Study
Research Questions
Conceptual Framework
Definitions
Assumptions
Scope, Limitations, and Delimitations
Chapter Summary
Chapter 2: Literature Review
Background and Overview
Foundations of Educational Philosophy in the United States
Curricula Reform Initiatives
Leadership Theories
Organizational Behavior in Academic Settings
Leadership in Academic Settings
Chapter Summary
Chapter 3: Methodology
Research Method and Design Appropriateness
Population, Sampling, and Data Collection Procedures and
Rationale
Internal and External Validity
Data Analysis
Organization and Clarity
Chapter Summary
Chapter 4: Data Analysis
Chapter 5: Summary, Conclusions and Recommendations
From the Paper "While a wide range of traits have been identified as being associated with different aspects of leadership effectiveness, the specific association between individual traits and effectiveness has frequently been unconvincing (Bass 1985, cited in Fernandez, 2005). Furthermore, the research to date has consistently failed to identify a set of skills and traits that all successful leaders must possess in order to be effective in a given setting (Fernandez, 2005). Likewise, although the importance of effective leadership in educational settings is widely recognized, there remains a lack of consensus on what works best and why; indeed, given the abysmal performance of many of the nation's schools despite repeated efforts at curricula reform and pedagogical alternatives, it would seem that this lack of consensus is based on a paucity of sound models rather than a lack of effort. In this regard, Short and Greer (2002) report that in recent years, there has been a concerted effort to restructure public education. "Site-based management, charter schools, learner- centered communities, and teacher empowerment have been the focus of much of the reform effort," they advise (p. viii). These initiatives have created a concomitant debate concerning what types of educational leaders are needed in this dynamic environment. According to Short and Greer, "Ideas about leadership have expanded as schools attempt to build learning organizations with empowered participants. While much has been written about school restructuring, there is a need for a better understanding about how to build empowering environments in schools based on empirical findings rather than rhetoric or opinion" (2002, p. ix)."
Abstract This paper discusses two relatively new areas of research in education - self-efficacy and the concept of multiple intelligences which are intertwined in a number of decisive and practical ways. As this paper attempts to elucidate, self-efficacy is closely linked to and enhanced by the theory of multiple intelligences. A central theme of this paper shows why self-efficacy is such an important part of the learning development and motivation in young students. This is combined with an analysis of the views on multiple intelligences and how this theory furthers self-efficacy. Lastly, the paper briefly looks at the implications of this discussion in terms of the curriculum and what impact it has on the teacher's role and curricula development.
Outline:
Introduction
Intelligence
Howard Gardner and the Theory of Multiple Intelligences
An Example Self-Efficacy in Reading Comprehension in Sixth Grade
The Cognitive Self and Efficacy.
Multiple Intelligences and Self-Efficacy
The Importance of Self-Efficacy
Case Study
Teaching and Curricula Implications.
Conclusion
From the Paper "If one translates theory into actuality, then one could easily envisage how a student with an intelligence such as intrapersonal intelligence or another less recognized form of intelligence, would have a low sense of self-worth and hence a low level of self-efficacy, with the concomitant low achievement prospects. As Gardner has intimated in the above quotation, the opposite process occurs in a situation where various intelligences are recognized and formally accepted in the teaching and classroom environment. The sixth grade student who feels that his to her specific form of intellect is accepted and validated will have a greater sense of self-worth and most probably higher levels of self-efficacy and higher achievement outcomes.
"The scenario sketched above is of course somewhat simplistic and there are many other elements to consider in ascertaining the relevance and functioning of self-efficacy. However, in theory and in practice, the relationship between multiple intelligence and self-efficacy can be seen as a greater acceptance of the talents, intellectual predilections and intelligence of an individual who would have possibly felt marginalized in the past."
