Schedule

Survey of the Terrain

17 January 2012

Introduction to and Overview of the Course & Organization of the U.S. Public School System

 Readings:

24 January 2012

Purposes of Schooling

 Readings:

Supplemental: 

  • Labaree, Ch. 1, “Public Schools for Private Advantage: Conflicting Goals and the Impact on Education” (on course website—Readings)
 Research and writing assignment(s):  Information Literacy Tutorial and Plagiarism Test certificates due electronically by email

31 January 2012

Higher Education

Readings:

7 February 2012

Education Beyond the Schoolhouse

Readings:
  • Storr, R. (1976). “The role of education in American history: A memorandum for the committee advising the fund for the advancement of education in regard to this subject,” Harvard Educational Review, 46(3): 331-354. (on Readings page)
  • Herb, S. (2000). “Preschool education through public libraries,” U.S. Department of Education.
  • CAP paper on teacher evaluation (suggested by Kelsey)
  • Market models of schooling reform paper (suggested by Stacy)

Pressing Matters

14 February 2012

Structure and Curriculum

Readings:
  • New England Primer (pp. 57-73 on 1727 facsimile; through “The Creed” on 1777 transcription)
  • Mann, Horace. 10th Annual Report. (on course website—Readings)
  • Mann, Horace. 12th Annual Report. (on course website—Readings)
  • White House Fact Sheet on college affordability (suggested by Hannah)
  • Foundation for Child Development paper on state policy impacts on children (suggested by Sarah)
Research and writing assignment(s): Policy history due by class time

21 February 2012

Structure and Curriculum

28 February 2012

Schooling, Land, and Colonization

Readings:

6 March 2012

Gender

Readings:
Research and writing assignment(s):
  • Geospatial analysis due by class time

13 March 2012

Spring Break—No Class Meeting

20 March 2012

Race and Class

Readings:

27 March 2012

Special Education

Readings:

3 April 2012

Control

Readings:
Research and writing assignment(s): 3-P analysis due by class time

Reform

10 April 2012

The Obama Administration
Readings:
Research and writing assignment(s): 3-P policy analysis due via Google Docs by class time

17 April 2012

Postman’s Vision
Readings:

24 April 2012

Flex Day

Research and writing assignment(s):  Policy recommendations due by class time

  • Dell Foundation paper on on-site, inspection-based accountability systems (suggested by Rachel)
  • WaPo article on what US cannot learn from Finland (suggested by Daniel)

8 May 2012

Policy Recommendation Presentations