Ch. 6 Ecology of the School
The School's Function as a Socializing Agent
Formal institution where learning takes place, provides intellectual and social experiences from which children develop the skills, knowledge, interests, and attitudes which characterize and shape them
Exert influence through educational programs, formal organization (authority), social relationships
Education from society's perspective and individual perspective
USA school's function is universal, formal, and prescriptive
Goals for Schooling in the USA Table 6.1 John Goodlad (pg 206)
Macrosystems Influence on Schools
Political Ideology
Consensus translates into educational policy
Democracy to function: to discuss/compromise on issues, select competent leaders, evaluate the equity of the rules
Economics
Inequality in funding due to funding per local property taxes
Ethnicity
Religion
Science/Technology
Parental Options Regarding School
Magnet Schools: a public school that offers special educational programs, such as science, music, or performing arts, and draws students from different neighborhoods by choice 1970
School voucher: a certificate issued by the federal government in the amount the local school district would normally spend on that child's education at his/her assigned public school, which parents can apply toward tuition at a private school or homeschooling reimbursement
Charter school: a school, authorized and funded by a public school district, formed by a group of parents, teachers, or other community members with shared educational philosophy
Home-based Schools
Diversity and Equity
Gender: Title IX of the Education Amendments Act
Ethnicity
Cultural assimilation: the process whereby a minority (subordinate) cultural group takes on the characteristics of the majority (dominant) cultural group
Melting pot: the idea that society should socialize diverse groups to blend into a common culture 1908
Cultural pluralism: mutual appreciation and undestanding of various cultures and coexistence in society of different languages, religious beliefs, and lifestyles
Language
1974 Equal Educational Opportunity Act
Differences in educational performances
Communication: nonverbal and verbal communication style is related to cultural socialization
Religion:violations, separation of church and state
Secular deals with worldly experiences, nonsecular with religious experiences
Disability: Refers to the reduction in the functioning of a particular body part or organ, or its absence
Impairment: physical damage or deterioration
Handicap: something that hampers a person; a disadvantage, a hindrance
Handicapism: assumptions and practices that promote the deferential and unequal treatment of people because they are different physically, mentally, or behaviorally
Inclusion: the educational philosophy that all children are entitled to participate fully in their school and community
Individualized Education Program: a form of communication between school and family, developed by the group of people (teacher, parent, and other involved personnel) responsible for the education of a child with special needs
Chronosystem Influences on Schools: Societal Change
Chronosystem Influences on School: Technology
Chronosystem Influences on School: Health and Safety
Mesosytem Influences on Schools: School-Child
Obesity: B/T 16 and 33 percent of children are obese
Violence: behavior that intentionally threaten, attempt, or inflict harm on others
Emergency Preparedness
Mesosystem Influences on Schools: School-Family
Learning Style: a consistent pattern of behavior and performance by which an individual approaches educational experiences
Mesosytem Influences on Schools: School-Peer Group
Peers may help or hind school's role of socialization
Elites, Athletes, Academics, Deviants, and Other
Mesosystem Influences on School: School-Media
PBS: programs designed to enhance cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development
Mesosystem Influences on School: Social-Community
School boundaries affect socioeconomic and/or cultural composition
Small schools are more likely to have more engagement in activities
Small schools more connected
Harsh discipline made students feel less connected
Adaptation to curriculum based on literature, research, political climate
Schooling for the future depends on being prepared for work and technological change
Computer
Digital Revolution
Internet in the classrooms
Individualized instruction
Substance Use and Abuse is still a problem among students in middle and high school
Individual and relationship risk factors listed on page 223
Community/Societal Risk factors on page 224
School shootings and violence has risen
Violence transcends all socioeconomic levels of schools and communities!
Involvement of macro, exo, meso, and microsystems listed on page 225
Children and youth rely on staff for safety
Crisis:an unstable or crucial time or state of affairs in which a decisive change is impending, especially one with the distinct possibility of a highly undesirable outcome
Macrosystem/Chronosystem influences on the School Table 6.2 page 227
180 days of school for 13 years
Begins in the family: the school extends the process by formal education
Traditionally less effective in educating children from low-socioeconomic status
Fewer resources
expectations of the teacher are more often middle class expectations
lack of certain preschool experiences
Needs to be a link between home and school for more effective socialization
Family Involvement: 1. Decision making 2. Participation 3. Partnership