A critical exploration of historical perspectives on education in the United States, philosophical conceptions of education, structures of schools and schooling, theories of learning, students' experiences, teachers' experiences, issues of race, social equity, gender, labeling, and tracking, and education as liberation. Two hours per week of field work are required. All sections of Critical Issues in Education are limited to 25 with priority given to students pursuing certification or the minor in Educational Studies. All sections of the course are writing intensive. The course explores the schooling experiences, strengths, and needs of student populations frequently marginalized by their differences from the mainstream.
Students conduct field research in school placements.
Enrollment limited to 25 with priority given to students pursuing certification or the minor in Educational Studies. This course provides a framework for understanding typical patterns and themes of development from the preschool through the adolescent years. Lectures, class discussions, and assignments will explore the complex levels of context in which children and adolescents develop, including family, school and culture. A critical exploration of what counts as literacy, who decides, and what the implications are for teaching and learning. Students explore theoretical and historical perspectives on literacy, individual experiences and constructions of literacy, literacy in different communities, and literacies which work within and against the structures of schooling.