•  Students will become familiar with selected critical issues impacting contemporary education.
•  Students will become familiar with diverse perspectives of those issues.
•  Students will learn what current research offers concerning those issues.
•  Students will observe aspects of those issues in field experiences.
•  Students will work with members of a group to identify an additional social factor influencing contemporary education and to present opposing positions on the topic.
•  Students will use strategies of critical analysis to examine the results of research and observation to develop personal beliefs concerning selected issues in education.

• Class Attendance/Participation (20%)   Due:  Continuously.  Education is not a spectator sport.  You must attend class to participate in activities which benefit you and your classmates.  Participation reveals your preparedness and interest.  Being present means you are there from start to finish.  Participation means you are actively involved in the class.   (10% for attendance; 10% for participation)

•  Article Reviews (15%) Due:  Week of Jan. 31st.  Select two recent (1995 or later) articles from two different education journals concerning critical issues impacting education but not listed in the major topics on the course schedule.  (The articles can concern two different topics or the same topic.)  The directions for the review follow.

        Type a one-page review of each article in the following format:

         Your name
          Class
          Date

          Title of the article, author, source

          Paragraph 1:  Summary of the main point of the article. (Single spaced)  (40 pts)

          Paragraph 2:  Your personal opinion of the author’s stance. (25 pts)

          Paragraph 3:  How will you use this information in your professional career? (25 pts)

          Attach a copy of the entire article to the review.  (10 pts)

          Be prepared to teach (present  information/lead a discussion) the class about your articles anytime after the due date.
 
 

• Debates (20%) Due as assigned.  During most classes we will conduct debates concerning critical issues related to education.  These may be selected from current events, journal articles or text readings.  Four students (two per team) will have one week’s notice as to the topic and which position you are assigned.

•  Group Project (15%) Due as assigned.  Teams of 4 or 5 students will lead a discussion of the issues and analyses in the text Contemporary Challenges for Educators.   A minimum of 3 additional resources (books, journal articles, surveys, interviews) are to be used in preparing the report.  Prepare visual aids and a handout to highlight information. **Class member evaluations and a self evaluation will be considered in assigning a grade to each participant.

• Field Project Reports (20%) Due week of April 3rd.  With instructor approval, you will select two field experiences to explore issues that affect the quality and equity of education.  During each visit, you will interview an official and will document the experience with photographs and a signed verification form.

            Possible choices of experiences include but are not limited to:

•  Attend a school board meeting and interview a board member
•  Visit an alternative program/charter school and interview a teacher or administrator
•  Visit a criminal justice center and/or interview a juvenile judge
•  Shadow and interview a school administrator
•  Shadow and interview a social services administrator
•  Volunteer with a social or service agency/interview the agency administrator (min. 3 hours at one agency)
• Food Banks
• Homeless Shelters
• Salvation Army
• Recreation Department
• Habitat for Humanity
• Halfway Houses
• Big Brother/Sister Programs
• Mentoring Program in the Schools
• Easter Seals
• Special Olympics
•  Interview a Federal/State Representative/Senator
•  Visit a private school and interview a teacher or administrator
•  Interview a person who uses the Internet extensively in his or her work.
•  Attend a political forum and interview a legislative staff member.
•  Interview a District administrator  (Supt. or Assist. Supt.)
•  Interview a major business and/or community leader.
•  Interview a sociology professor regarding the role of education in shaping society.
•  Bring  a guest speaker to our class (TV/radio Commentator, local NRA officer, local SADD/MADD officer, professional sports figure, religious school administrator, local Tax Watch officer, candidate for public office, public official, etc.)

The format of the field experience report is:

•  Cover sheet with appropriate graphic – be creative - and your Name, class, date  and a title appropriate to the observation
• Length:   3 page paper  (single space paragraphs, double space between)
• Include a summary of major points, how the observation relates to education, and how your experience will be useful to you in your professional career.
• Include one or more photographs of your experience and other required forms.

•  Personal Belief Reflections  (10%)  Due Week of April 17th.   Using the information gathered from all your experiences in this course, formulate your personal

        Format for paper:

•  No cover sheet;  Name, class, date at top right of first page

•  3 page paper (single space par/double space between)
•  Select up to five issues discussed and express your belief regarding a major aspect of each. Include references which influenced the formation of your beliefs.
•  Conclusion:  Describe how the course will benefit your professional career.

#Note:  FAE represents Introduction to the Foundations of American Education.  CCE represents Contemporary Challenges for Educators.
 

Discussion Questions/DEBATE Topics:

  Week of  Jan. 10:    Debate: Is teaching a “profession?”

  Week of Jan.. 17:    Is there a dominant culture in the U.S.?
                                Should all citizens/students be inculturated with“Americanism”?
                                Is there a way to make all groups (ethnicities, religions, ages, sexual orientations, handicapped, etc.) feel included?
                                Should schools take steps to ensure cultural pluralism?
                                Should the government provide housing for all the homeless?
                                Should welfare recipients be required to work?
                                React:  Children living in poverty have little or no chance to be successful.
                                Someone has to be at the bottom.
                               Those who live in poverty choose it.
                               There are more Anglo-Americans in poverty than any other ethnic group.
                               Foster parents make money off their children.
                               Teachers favor males.
                               Separate sex classrooms are better.

                               Debate:  The US is a melting pot and all cultures should come together as one.

                               Debate:  The culture of UCF is conducive to successful learning and growing experiences.
 
 
 
 

Week of Jan. 24  :    What acts of discrimination have you been subjected to or witnessed?
                                Children grow up in a variety of types of families. What impact do these have on schools?
                                Many adults have a negative impression of teenagers. Why do you think this is true and is their impression accurate?

                                Debate:  Is racism dead?

                                Debate:  How important is the role of parents in a child’s success in school?

                                Debate:  Should public schools educate everybody?
 
 

Week of Jan. 31:     **Article Reviews due at Time of Class**

                                Debate:  Shouldschools teach in English only and not use other languages?

                                Debate:  Is full inclusion of disabled students desirable?

                                Debate:  Should zero tolerance of gang symbols be applied?

                                Debate:  Do Black students need an Afrocentric curriculum?

                                Debate:  Should multiculturalism permeate the curriculum?
 
 
 
 

 Week of Feb. 7:      Debate:  Should students be able to say/write anything they wish in school?

                                Debate:  Should students be able to wear anything they wish in school?

                                Debate:  Should the separation of Church and State be maintained in the schools?

                                Debate:  Should students be able to pray in school?

                               Debate:  Should affirmative action be used to benefit underrepresented groups in hiring and other selection processes?

                                Debate:  Should gay and lesbian students be protected from harassment?
 

Week of  Feb. 14:   Debate:  Will vouchers ruin public education?

                               Debate:  Will Charter Schools and Magnet Schools revitalize public education?

                               Debate:  Should private schools be governed by the local school board?

                               Debate:  Do Home Schools provide a better education for children?

                               Debate:  Does increased funding improve success?
 

 Week of Feb. 21:   Debate:  Is the main purpose of schools to transmit or to transform cultures?

                              Debate:  Should school attendance be compulsory?
 

Week of Feb. 28 :  Continue discussions

Week of Mar.   6  :  Debate:  Should schools be responsible for educating youth about violence, substance abuse, and sex education?

                                React:  Most teen murders are perpetuated by adults.
                                           Most street crime is perpetuated by youths.
                                           Most domestic crime is perpetuated by adults.

                                Debate:  Can schools help curb the rising rate of violent crimes committed by adults?
 

Week of Mar. 13   SPRING BREAK WEEK
 

Week of Mar. 20 :    Debate:  Should we require Values Education to reverse the moral decline?

                               Debate:  Should we continue to teach the basic courses now in the curriculum?

                                Debate:  Should high schools require a pre-college curriculum for all students?

                                Debate:  Should art and music be part of the daily program in elementary schools?

                                React:  What should be taught in primary grades, intermediate grades, middle school and high school?
 

Week of Mar. 27 :    Debate:  Should the federal government dictate curriculum?

                                Debate:  Should private companies run schools with all children being awarded vouchers to attend the school of their choice?

                                Debate:  Is knowledge simply the acquisition of information?

                                Debate:  Should parents and students help determine the curriculum?
 

Week of Apr.   3:    **Field Project Reports Due**    Discussions of Field Experiences
 

Week of Apr. 10:     Debate:  Should schools spend a large part of their budgets to continuously acquire new technologies?

                                Continue discussions of Field Experiences
 

Week of  Apr. 17:  **Personal Beliefs Paper Due**

                                Debate:  Should state legislatures determine curriculum and graduation requirements.

                                Debate:  Should sales taxes rather than property taxes be used to support schools?

                                Debate:  You are a teacher in the district and the personal friend of a School Board member. Should you share your opinions
                                        of your administration and your classroom needs with your friend?

                                Debate:  Should you relax after a long week of teaching by spending a night in your favorite tavern and drinking
                                        yourself into oblivion?

                                React:  How should the Superintendent and School Board members handle special interest groups?

                                            A School Board is a policy making body. Members should not act individually. What do you think should happen when a member
                                                    breaks this rule?

                                           When running for office, potential School Board members promise to make changes.  Sometimes they promise improvements in
                                                    specific schools or programs.  Is this appropriate?

                                            At some School Board meetings, individual Board members will chastise the Superintendent.  What is your reaction to this?
 

Week of  Apr. 24:    Continue/Conclude discussions
                                Self Evaluations Due
 
 

        Agency/Location:  _______________________________________________________

        Contact/Interviewee:  _____________________________________________________

                                          Objectives:  _______________________________________________________________
 

                                            Questions: _______________________________________________________________
 

                                              NAME__________________________________________________________________

                                              ADDRESS_______________________________________________________________
 

                                              PHONE(S)  HOME____________________________________________

                                                                  WORK_____________________________________________

                                              EMAIL  _________________________________________________________________
 
 

                ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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