An analysis of how schools interact with diverse communities and with social, political, and cultural institutions and traditions. Twenty-five hours of field research.
Education is contextual - and importantly so public education in a diverse, democratizing society.
Education and Society addresses this latter area of learning. Education and Society swims against the traditional tide that has embraced high academic standards for only a select few learners in our schools. It is the tide that blames sub par student achievement on students' lack of native intelligence or lack of motivation, or on individual parents' or whole communities' perceived lack of support for their children and the school. It is the tide by which schools and school districts accept praise for their students' achievements but resist responsibility for meeting students and families at least halfway when academic, behavioral, economic, cultural, or other factors present perceived barriers to achievement. Through core and elective readings, and field experiences focused on community-context rather than school settings per se, students mature in their knowledge of cultural and community diversity and its implications for teaching and learning.