1. POLITICS AND AMERICA'S SCHOOLS: TEACHERS "IN THE LINE OF FIRE"
Guiding Questions
Why Do You Need to Understand Educational Politics?
Five Dimensions of Educational Politics
Professional Standards and Educational Politics
Relevant Standards-Political Involvement and Advocacy for Students
How Do Educational Politics Place Teachers "In the Line of Fire"?
Teacher Accountability
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Research and Theory Into Practice
What Groups Are Competing for Control of Schools in the United States?
Technology In Teaching: How Are Teachers Using the Internet To Influence Educational Policies?
How Is Restructuring Changing How Schools are Controlled?
School-Based Management (SBM)
Case for Reflection: Parental Involvement and Politics
Chicago's Approach to SBM
How Is the Privatization Movement Changing School Governance?
Charter Schools
Research on Charter Schools
For-Profit Schools
Edison Schools, Inc.
Educational Alternatives, Inc.
Teacher-Owned Schools?
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
Appendix 1.1: Guidelines for Teachers to Think and Act Politically
2. LOCAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND FEDERAL INFLUENCES ON EDUCATION
Guiding Questions
How Does the Local Community Influence Schools?
Local School District
Local Educational Politics
Local School Board
Makeup of School Boards
Criticisms of School Boards
Case for Reflection: Teachers vs. the Board of Education
Superintendent of Schools
Superintendents and Local Educational Politics
The Role of Parents
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Theory and Research Into Practice
Technology in Teaching: Can the Internet Enhance School-Home Communication and Parental Involvement?
What Powers and Influence Do States Have in Governing Schools?
The Role the State Government in Education
The State Legislature
The State Courts
The Governor
State Board of Education
State Department of Education
Chief State School Officer
How Do Regional Education Agencies Assist Schools?
How Does the Federal Government Influence Education?
Federal Initiatives
The Impact of Presidential Policies
Advice to the President
U.S. Department of Education
Tension Among Federal, State, and Local Roles
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
Appendix 2.1: Typical Organizational Structure for a Medium-Size School District (26,000 pupils)
3. EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHIES IN CONFLICT
Guiding Questions
Why Do You Need to Understand Educational Philosophy?
What Is the Nature of Philosophy?
What Determines Your Educational Philosophy?
Relevant Standards: Developing Philosophical "Habits of Mind"
Beliefs about Teaching and Learning
Beliefs about Students
Beliefs about Knowledge
Beliefs about What Is Worth Knowing
Case for Reflection: What Knowledge is of Most Worth?
What Are the Branches of Philosophy?
Metaphysics
Epistemology
Axiology
Ethics
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Theory and Research Into Practice
Aesthetics
Logic
What Are Five Modern Philosophical Orientations to Teaching?
Perennialism
Perennialist Educational Philosophers
Portrait of a Perennialist Teacher
Essentialism
Portrait of an Essentialist Teacher
Progressivism
Technology in Teaching: How Can the Internet Enhance Your Study of and Interest in the Philosophy of Education?
Progressive Strategies
Portrait of a Progressive Teacher
Existentialism
Two Existentialist Views
Portrait of an Existentialist Teacher
Social Reconstructionism
Social Reconstructionsim and Progressivsm
Portrait of a Social Reconstructionist Teacher
What Psychological Orientations Have Influenced Teaching Philosophies?
Humanistic Psychology
The Influence of Rousseau and Pestalozzi
Self-Actualization of Students
Portrait of a Humanistic Teacher
Behaviorism
Founders of Behavioristic Psychology
Portrait of a Behaviorist Teacher
Constructivism
Portrait of a Constructivist Teacher
How Can You Develop Your Educational Philosophy?
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
Appendix 3.1: Philosophic Inventory
4. LEGAL ISSUES IN U.S.EDUCATION
Guiding Questions
Relevant Standards: Education and the Law
Why Do You Need a Professional Code of Ethics?
Ethical Teaching Attitudes and Practices
Ethical Dilemmas in Classroom and School
What Are Your Legal Rights as a Teacher?
Certification
Teachers' Rights to Nondiscrimination
Teaching Contracts
Due Process in Tenure and Dismissal
Academic Freedom
Famous Cases
States' Rights
So Student Teachers Have the Same Rights?
What Are Your Legal Responsibilities as a Teacher?
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Research and Theory Into Practice
Avoiding Tort Liability
Negligence
Educational Malpractice
Reporting Child Abuse
Observing Copyright Laws
Photocopies
Videotapes
Computer Software
E-mail and the Internet
Technology in Teaching: How Does the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) Apply to Distance-Learning Programs?
Publishing on the Internet
What Are the Legal Rights of Students and Parents?
Case for Reflection: Parental Objection to the Curriculum
Freedom of Expression
Censorship
Dress Codes
Due Process in Suspension and Expulsion
Reasonable Search and Seizure
Privacy
Cameras in Classrooms
Students' Rights to Nondiscrimination
What Are Some Issues in the Legal Rights of School Districts?
Corporal Punishment
Sexual Harassment
Religious Expression
Guidelines for Religious Activities in Schools
Home Schooling
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
Appendix 4.1: NEA Code of Ethics for Teachers
Appendix 4.2: NEA Bill of Rights for Student Teachers
5. COMPETITION FOR EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Guiding Questions
How Are Schools Financed in the United States?
The Challenge of Equitable Funding
Sources of Funding
Local Funding
State Funding
Federal Funding
Support for Education in Other Countries
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Research and Theory Into Practice
What Are Some Trends in Funding for Equity and Excellence?
Case for Reflection: "Rich" and "Poor" School Districts
Tax Reform and Redistricting
Vertical Equity
School Choice
Voucher Systems
Evaluation of Voucher Programs
Corporate-Education Partnerships
Relevant Standards: Obtaining Additional Resources from the
Community
Community-School Partnerships
What Is the Condition of America's School Buildings?
Deteriorating School Buildings
Financing School Construction and Renovation
The Need to Improve America's School Buildings
Building Deterioration
Increasing Enrollments
Influence of Facilities on Learning
Quest for Equitable Resources
Increased Use of Technology
The Cost of Improving School Buildings
Do All Students Have Equal Access to Technology?
Funding for Computers and Technical Support
Commercial Computer Labs
Access to Technology for All Students
A "Digital Divide"?
Technology in Teaching: What Are the Characteristics of "High Tech" Schools?
Computers and Gender
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
6. STANDARDS, TESTING, AND ACCOUNTABILITY IN AMERICA'S SCHOOLS
Guiding Questions
What Role Will Standards Play in Your Classroom?
Perspectives on Standards
TEACHERS' VOICES: Putting Research and Theory Into Practice
What Is Standards-Based Education (SBE)?
Content and Performance Standards
Standards Developed by Professional Associations
Social Issues and Changing Values
Aligning Curricula and Textbooks with Standards
Curriculum Frameworks
What Controversies Surround the Effort to Raise Standards?
The Advocates: Higher Standards Will Improve Education
The Opposition: Higher Standards Will Not Improve Education
How Are Schools and Teachers Held Accountable for Student Learning?
Relevant Standards: Accepting Responsibility for Students' Learning
Technology in Teaching: Computer-adaptive Online Testing Systems to Deliver Statewide Assessment Tests
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP)
Testing for Teachers?
How Are High-Stakes Tests Changing Education?
Consequences of High-Stakes Tests
High-Stakes Tests and Educator Accountability
Preparing for High-Stakes Tests
Case for Reflection: Teaching to the Test
Legal Challenges of "High Stakes" Tests
Debate Over High-Stakes Tests
What Does the Future Hold for You as a Teacher?
A Preferred Future for Education
Summary
Key Terms and Concepts
Reflective Application Activities
Discussion Questions
Professional Journal
Online Assignments
Observations and Interviews
Professional Portfolio
