3800 Syllabus

FDN 3800, Social and Philosophical Foundations of Education

A. The Educational Process: Theory and History
Holidays	Class Meeting Dates	Class Topics, Assigned Readings, and Related Links
	May 26	Key questions: Why do we have public schools? What kind of power do teachers have in public schools? Where does curriculum come from? What is the difference between the hidden and the overt curriculum?
		Quiz study guide: Word doc. PDF.
		Introduction. Negative and positive freedom; Bloom's Taxonomy.
	May 31	Memorial Day, No class.
	June 2	John Taylor Gatto, “Bitter Lessons: What’s Wrong with American Teachers,” p. 3. Or, click here.
		Philip Jackson, “The Daily Grind,” p. 9. Or click here.
		Sarah J. McCarthy, “Why Johnny Can’t Disobey,” p. 35, or click here.
		Video: Obedience, by Stanley Milgram.
		Video: Remember Mai Lai.
		"Without Sanctuary: Photographs and Postcards of Lynching in America." Click here. (The "official" site has been removed, but the photos and text from the exhibit are still available. Please browse, and be sure to click on the link that will tell you more about any postcard you view. Glance now, peruse thoroughly later. See below.)
		Plato, “The Allegory of the Cave,” Click here.
		John Dewey, “My Pedagogic Creed,” p. 243.
		David Purpel, “Moral Outrage and Education,” p. 251.
		Herbert M. Kliebard, “Three Currents of American Curriculum Thought,” p. 75 .
		Svi Shapiro, “Public School Reform: The Mismeasure of Education,” p. 27.
		Philosophies of education and learning theories: Click here.
		Quiz 1 opens on ASULearn at 9 PM and remains open for one week. It closes June 9 at 11 PM.
B. Education, Social Class, and Equality
	June 7	Key questions: How does social class impact educational outcomes? Can negative impacts be avoided? How?
		Dorothy Allison, “A Question of Class,” p. 141.
		Jean Anyon, “Social Class and the Hidden Curriculum of Work,” p.127.
		JoMills Braddock II, et al, “Ollie Taylor’s Story: How Tracking and Ability Grouping Affects Our Children,” p. 121.
		"Growing Good Principals" (from The Charlotte Observer), . Click here.
		Adam Gamoran, "Is Ability Grouping Equitable?" Click here.
		Clotfelter, et al., "Segregation and Resegregation in North Carolina’s Public School Classrooms." Resegregation through tracking. Click here.
		North Carolina Middle School Association Research Bulletin on tracking and ability grouping. Click here.
		North Carolina Dept. of Public Instruction, "Grouping Practices Research Brief." Click here.
		Video: People Like Us: Social Class in America. Click here.
		Video: Inner City Debate Team.
	June 9	Bill Bigelow, “The Human Lives Behind the Labels: The Global Sweatshop, Nike, and the Race to the Bottom.” From Rethinking Schools: An Urban Education Resource. Click here.
		An interview with history teacher Bill Bigelow. Click here.
		Stephan Jay Gould on IQ. Click here.
		Nicholas Lemann, "Behind the SAT," p. 99
		Lisa Delpit, Ebonics and Culturally Responsive Instruction. Click Here
		Lisa Delpit, “The Silenced Dialogue: Power and Pedagogy in Educating Other People's Children," p. 149.
		Video: The American Dream at Groton.
		Quiz 2 opens on ASULearn at 9 PM and remains open for one week. It closes June 16 at 11 PM.
C. Education and Race
	June 14	Key questions: How does race impact educational outcomes? Can negative impacts be avoided? What connections are there between race and social class?
		Video: Eyes on the Prize. [VC6675]
		Martin Luther King, “Letter From Birmingham Jail,” p. 397. Additional information from Human Rights Watch.
		Without Sanctuary: Lynching in America. Click here. (The "official" site has been removed, but the photos and text from the exhibit are still available. Please browse, and be sure to click on the link that will tell you more about any postcard you view.)
		Peggy McIntosh, “White Privilege: Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack,” p.165.
	June 16	Robert Lake, “An Indian Father’s Plea,” p.191.
		Indian Boarding Schools: "I felt as if I were dead and traveling to the Spirit Land". A teacher resource from the Library of Congress. Click here.
		Indian Boarding Schools: "The Challenges and Limitations of Assimilation." Click here.
		"Appropriate Methods For Teaching About Native American Peoples." Click here.
		Teaching Thanksgiving Links: (From the forum discussion).
		Cornel West, “Race and Social Justice in America,” p. 409.
		A short excerpt from a new book, Slavery By Another Name: Link to NPR Additional photos from the book: Photos
		Martha A. Bireda, "The Mythical African American Male," p. 187.
		Video: A Class Divided.
		Quiz 3 opens on ASULearn at 9 PM and remains open for one week. It closes June 23 at 11 PM. It includes questions and topics from the next section.
D. Education and Sexual Identity
	June 21	Key questions: What is "sexual identity"? How does schooling affect identity in general, and sexual identity in particular? Can one's sexual identification affect school performance? Why and how?
		Angela Phillips, "In the Beginning There are Babies," p. 203.
		Michael Kimmel, "What About the Boys?" p. 221.
		"Bravehearts: Men in Skirts." November 4, 2003–February 8, 2004. The Costume Institute, Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. What did Jesus wear?
		Video: Slim Hopes [VC 7575].
		Doug Risner "What Mathew Shepard Would Tell Us," p. 209.
		Video: The Transgender Revolution.
E. The Educational Process: Theory and History, Revisited
	June 23	Jonathan Kozol, “Great Men and Women,” p. 325.
		"Put to the Test," No Child Left Behind: Pro and Con, Click Here
		Helen Keller; Rosa Parks, an editorial perspective
		The third quiz must be completed by 11 PM June 23.