Show:
Reading and the Wider Crisis/Fulfilling our Nations Highest Ideals
Constantly Changing Schools - A Critical Issue
Localism and a Perfect Storm of Bad Educational Ideas
Are There Decisive Advantages in Specifying Definite Content?
Thinking the Unthinkable: A Core of Common Content in the Early Grades
100
Why do we need to solve the reading problem?
We can neither compete optimally in the knowledge economy nor fulfill the aim of giving every child a fair start in life until this is done.
100
Mobility is a misleading term that...
denotes students moving from one school to another in the middle of the year.
100
What is localism?
On the surface, it implies that our state or our town will decide what shall be taught in our schools.
100
Can American schools follow their own state standards as well as teach the detailed specifications of the Japanese curricuclum?
Yes without double duty
100
WHat does Hirsch mean by "commonality of content"?
He does not believe all states should teach 100% of the same curriculum across the country. Instead, he thinks between 40% - 60% of the curriculum should be of common content.
200
What is reading comprehension?
This depends on the primordal understanding of speech that occurs within the common public sphere.
200
Researchers have found that the adverse effects of such social and academic incoherence are greatly intensified when?
Parents have low educational levels and when conpensatory education is not avaliable at home.
200
Who are liberals and conservatives?
These two groups are suspicious of imposed curricular content.
200
What is the reality of American students' school experience even if they stay in the same school?
Gaps and repetitions
200
Why is commonality of content important?
Due to student mobility, there needs to be an agreement upon what content is taught, and the grade it is taught in.
300
How can reading scores be improved?
Reading scores would be greatly improved if we offered students a cummulative content-oriented reading program during the class periods devoted to language arts.
300
When there is greater commonality of the curriculum, the effects of mobility...
are less severe
300
What is cultural sensitivity?
The public schools should not take sides in disputed areas. Children should not b compelled to attend a school that inculcates ideas that their parents find repugnant. Because of its history of religious refuge, the United States has a first rate tradition of cultural sensitivity.
300
Many teachers leave within the 1st 4 years? In urban setting in 5 years of less? Why?
1/4 50% Low job satisfaction and stressful work conditions
300
When or should we teach about the Mayflower?
State and district guidelines do not normally specify which topics should be taught. This can be related to the fact that many American school systems do not have a mandated curriculum.
400
Who are the founders of our educational principles?
Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann
400
The term local school implies?
a thereness, a stability
400
Why is it important to openly define what should be taught in school?
Specifically defining what core subject matter is taught in a grade level is a safer protection against indoctrination in public schools, than the current arrangement , under which nobody really knows what is being taught.
400
How can great teachers have much greater job satisfaction?
Can depend on one another in a supportive chain over the grade levels.
400
Why is background information important?
In order to teach children how to understand what is said or written, we must teach them that taken-for-granted background knowledge.
500
What is commonality of knowledge?
Horace Mann thought this would expand people's sympathies beyond their narrow group interests to embrace the interest of the nation as a whole.
500
How many schools are actually stable in the US?
very few.
500
According to Hirsch, what is the main source of indoctrination?
Teachers, not textbooks, are the main source of indoctrination. Indoctrination is less likely to occur when schools are clear about the basic academic content taught in each grade level.
500
What is bad for all students but are most disadvantageous to the already disadvantage?
unproductive use of school time, changing content, repition and fragmentation that results in lack of specificity.
500
What do the states need to agree upon?
The states should agree on specific core content in ALL subject areas in the early grades.