Education #2 essay

Describe how Illinois revamped its state-level plan to fund schools in 2017

By 2016, state and local funding sources in Illinois had created a statewide pattern of unequal spending. In 2017, state lawmakers adopted a plan called "Evidence-Based Funding" in order to attempt to correct this. This plan recalculated the existing foundation formula to create a specific funding target for each school district based on its specific needs. When the plan is fully funded by the state education budget, every school will have adequate resources to meet their needs.

Distinguish between federal categorical and block grants

Categorical grants are awarded for spending in specific categories but are governed by specific legislation. Block grants are more flexible but aren't guaranteed funding from year to year.

Summarize major legislation or legal precedents that impact teachers' rights in the classroom, including: Impact of Title IX & Title VII on discrimination during employment decisions Impact of Thompson v Southwest School district on teachers' private life Impact of FERPA on teachers Understanding of academic freedom Understanding of teachers' liability in classroom

In Thompson v. Southwest School District, the teacher (Diane Thompson) sued the school district. The court ruled that the teacher's behavior had not interfered with her effectiveness in the classroom. The board lost its case and the teacher kept her job. Interview questions about race, marital status, sex, religion, age, national origin, and physical or other disabilities (and requests for photographs along with an application!) are generally illegal. FERPA guarantees students the rights to educational privacy but acknowledges that guardians that have minor children can access their educational records. The supreme court also ruled that students can grade their peer's work and announce the grades in class without violating the privacy act. Teachers have a right to academic freedom: they can expect to teach without restrictive interference or censorship. This right is not "absolute:" courts have balanced teachers' right to academic freedom with the school system's interests in students learning appropriate subject matter in an environment conducive to learning. Teachers can be held liable for accidents and injuries that happen to students at school. Teachers who demonstrate reasonable care for students are not likely to be found liable for injuries. They will take precautions, establish rules to avoid such injuries, and warn students of the dangers.

Describe major patterns of change in American education from the 18th - 21st century o Distinguish between dame schools, apprenticeships, Latin grammar schools, common schools, and normal schools o Describe how education differed in southern, middle, and New England colonies o Explain the significance of the Kalamazoo case for universal education o Describe the role that John Dewey played in the progressive education movement o Identify 20th century factors that led to a trend toward education reform

In the 17th + 18th century, only middle and upper-class white males were likely to receive formal instruction. Some women did enroll in informal dame schools to learn basic skills and household tasks. Children in poor families may have done apprenticeships until they were 18-21. Southern Colonies lacked formal education systems, but wealthy families often paid for their children to go to tutors. Middle Colony Schools usually were tied to religion. New England Colony Schools were formed in order to teach children to read in defiance of "that old Satan". However, Females usually left after learning to read and write. Males who came from wealthy families could pay to attend Latin Grammar Schools which were like early prep for college. A push for universal education began after the American Revolution but faced a great debate. Some thought that they shouldn't have to pay for others to be educated. It wasn't until Horace Mann promoted Common Schools that common people education was widespread. The common school movement grew and eventually led to the introduction of normal schools, where teachers learned the approach/ methods of teaching. The Kalamazoo case set a predicate for public funding for high schools. As a result, the public compressive high school system that we have today. John Dewey initiated methods of progressive education. For example, he initiated the learning by doing approach to education. The Cold war brought an abrupt end to progressive approaches and a shift towards education reform. The report A Nation at Risk described how America's educational system was failing to educate students well. Because of the report, many educational reform efforts have been introduced.

• Distinguish between teacher-centered and child-centered educational philosophies

Some philosophies of education are teacher-centered or subject centered. They emphasize the importance of transmitting subject matter knowledge. Examples of these philosophies are pereniallism and essentialism. Pereniallism suggests that the purpose of education is to search for constant, changeless, truth. In lower grades schooling is teacher directed and the teacher's role is to provide a solid foundation of knowledge and skills. Later, they may adapt Socratic approaches to promote critical thinking. Criteria taught may be centered around the Great Books. The essentialism approach also believes that students must learn certain skills and core knowledge, but more focus is on equipping students to meet the needs of modern society. There are also student centered philosophies that emphasize the development of individual learners. Progressiveness focuses on the needs and curiosity of the students. Social Reconstructionism emphasizes the need to address social challenges through the education system. In an existentialist approach, students (and teachers!) are self directed as they seek individual meaning in their lives at their own pace.

Illinois traditionally dispersed state funds for schools through

foundation formulas

behaviorist perspective

individuals learn from the consequences of their actions

Per pupil spending

is a common metric used to understand school funding

Constructivism

knowledge is constructed by the learner, rather than transmitted

Describe what "adequate education" refers to at the state level

means that the State will provide for an efficient system of high quality public educational institutions and services.