Module 6: Lecture Materials & Resources
Contemporary Aims in Contemporary Society & the Professionalization Movement
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Read and watch the lecture resources & materials below early in the week to help you respond to the discussion questions and to complete your assignment(s).
Read
• Tozer, S., Senese, G., & Violas, P. (2021). School and society: Historical and contemporary perspectives (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
o Chapters 8-9
• Ravitch (2020). Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools.
o Chapters 13-16
Watch
• Public schools for sale?
Moyers & Company. (2014, April 15). Public schools for sale? [Video]. YouTube.Public Schools for SaleLinks to an external site.
• What the 1% don’t want you to know
Moyers & Company. (2014, April 18). What the 1% don’t want you to know [Video]. YouTube.What the 1% Don’t Want You to KnowLinks to an external site.
Assignment 6
Reform & Revolt
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Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools, by Diana Ravitch (2020) is a revolutionary text that exposes corporations’ attempts to eliminate public education and replace it with privatized schools. After reading the assigned chapters from the Ravitch text, all students should respond to each of the following questions with substantial responses
1. Chapter Thirteen: The Miracles That Weren’t: New Orleans and Florida
o According to Ravitch, what conditions lead to the miracle of the turnaround of the New Orleans school district after the Katrina hurricane disaster?
o The New Orleans scenario was played out subsequently in Florida and dubbed the “Florida Miracle” under Jeb Bush who spent billions of dollars on vouchers for private and religious schools and in support of charter schools. Was the Florida Miracle real or was it an illusion according to Ravitch?
2. Chapter Fourteen: Common Core and a Gaggle of Other Failed Reforms
o According to Ravitch, were the Common Core Standards (CCSS) developed by teachers and researchers?
o What does Ravitch say about the use of student test scores for teacher evaluations?
o What does Ravitch have to say about the practice of parent trigger laws?
o According to Ravitch, what are the problems associated with value-added assessments that were developed by Sanders?
o According to Ravitch, what are the factors that have the most influence on students’ standardized test scores?
3. Chapter Fifteen: The Teachers Revolt
o According to Ravitch, what are some of the factors that lead teachers to revolt in 2018?
4. Chapter Sixteen: Goliath Stumbles
o According to Ravitch, what is the education reform?
o According to Ravitch, has the education reform produced better education?
Submission Instructions:
• Copy all the questions for the assignment, paste them into a Microsoft Word document, and respond to them all with substantial responses (approximately 125 words for each question).
• Each Assignment (not to be confused with Discussion Board Assignments) will be turned in under “Assignments”. Spelling and grammar will be factored into your grade. The instructor will provide you with feedback under “Assignments”.
• Cite one resource that disagrees with Ravitch’s views in any part of this assignment and briefly describe the author’s view.
• Give your opinion at least once per assignment after stating Ravitch’s views. This should be substantial and not simply agree or disagree.