These goals tend to change with time. During the earlier part of the 20th century the public was disillusioned with the public schools because of the strong emphasis on a classical education with little regard for the current needs of society. This gave rise to the development of vocational education. Today we are seeing a reversal with the "back-to-basics" movement.
As a teacher in the public schools, you need to be aware of the various views regarding the goals and purposes of education since they do have an impact on your program. Example of this is the push to integrate academic and vocational education and the emphasis on end-of-course tests in vocational subjects.
2. Describe the public's views regarding the goals of education.
3. Discuss how the goals of education have changed during the 20th century
4. Identify educational reform initiatives and the impact these initiatives have on education.
- Magnet Schools
- Open Enrollment
- Vouchers
- Charter Schools
- EMOs
5. List the characteristics and goals of career and technical education (vocational education).
2. What do you think of Neil Postman's views about education in "The End of Education"?
3. Does the general population support Dr. Ravitch's view? Each year the Gallup organization conducts a poll of the public's attitudes toward schools and publishes the findings in the Kappan Magazine. Read the article "The 34th Annual Phi Delta Kappa/Gallup Poll Of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools"
4. Every year Dr. Gerald Bracey prepares a report on the condition of education in America. Bracey, the former director of school testing for the state of Virginia, believes the press and others who are trying to promote a specific point of view are not telling the whole story about education in America. He attempts to set the record strait once a year in the Phi Delta Kappan magazine. The 11th Bracey Report on the Condition of Public Education appeared in October of 2001. Read it over and see what you can learn about educational issues.
5. What do educational leaders read on a weekly basis? Education Week. Visit the Education Week website and spend a little time wandering through the aisles. There is an interesting North Carolina story on the front page this week (May 22-29, 2002).
6. View the PowerPoint presentation on "Vocational Education" on-line or download it to learn about the goals and purposes of vocational education. Next week we will take a more in-depth look at the curriculum in career and technical education and agricultural education.
