school structure and personnel
Who are the support staff in a school?
Secretaries, custodians, aides, and counselors who assist teachers and administrators.
Why is it important for teachers to have an educational philosophy?
It guides decisions about teaching, learning, and classroom management.
What is the explicit curriculum?
The formal, planned lessons and objectives taught in school.
What does FERPA (Buckley Act) protect?
Student educational record privacy.
What is the main source of local school funding?
Property taxes
What is social promotion?
Moving a student to the next grade level regardless of achievement.
What are the four primary areas of philosophy?
Metaphysics, Epistemology, Axiology, and Logic.
What is the hidden (implicit) curriculum?
The unspoken lessons, values, and expectations students learn through the school environment.
What is academic freedom?
Teachers’ right to teach relevant content within professional and legal limits.
Who hires the superintendent and sets district policy?
The local school board.
What is the difference between middle school and junior high?
Middle schools emphasize social/emotional growth and team teaching; junior highs are more subject-focused like high school.
Which philosophy focuses on hands-on learning and student experiences?
Progressivism
Define null curriculum.
What is not taught or left out of the curriculum.
What is the Establishment Clause?
The First Amendment clause prohibiting government endorsement of religion.
What are categorical grants?
Funds designated for specific programs or purposes (like special education).
Define comprehensive high school.
A high school offering academic, vocational, and extracurricular programs for all students.
Define axiology in education.
The study of values—what is morally and aesthetically important in education.
What is service learning?
Combining community service with academic learning and reflection.
Define in loco parentis.
The legal principle that teachers act in place of parents while students are in school.
What are the seven characteristics of effective schools generally focused on?
Strong leadership, clear goals, safe climate, high expectations, frequent assessment, parental involvement, and focused instruction.
What is a virtual school and one advantage it offers?
An online learning environment; allows flexibility and individualized pacing.
What philosophy emphasizes social change and addressing injustice through education?
Social Reconstructionism
What are standards and why are they important?
Set learning goals for what students should know and be able to do; ensure consistency and accountability.
What is the difference between legal and ethical issues in teaching?
Legal = based on laws; Ethical = based on moral principles and professional standards.
Explain “pay to play” and its impact
Fees required for extracurriculars; can disadvantage students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds.