Ehtisham Tariq - Part Four - 1980-2000 - The Bottom Line

     In this week's class, we discussed schooling from the 1980's all the way up to the present. As stated in part four of the book "School: The Story of American Public Education" by David Tyack, James D. Anderson, Larry Cuban, Carl F. Kaestle, Diane Ravitch, Sheila Curran Bernard, Sarah Mondale, and Meryl Streep, it states that "At two separate points in our history, the ends of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, American schools have been vocationalized. Among the civic, academic, and moral goals that have historically guided tax-supported public schools, one became primary: preparing students for the ever-changing workplace. Twice in the past, business-led coalitions forged political alliances among public officials, union leaders, educators, and parents. Fearing foreign competition for their share of the global market, they turned to schools to develop an efficient workforce that would give American international trade an edge and ultimately fuel prosperity. In both cases, these reformers believed that schools should be modeled after the corporation and the marketplace. In these two periods of reform, business involvement in U.S. public schools was sustained and influential in changing school goals, governance, management, organization, and curriculum. But, surprisingly, business support has done little to alter dominant classroom practices." (Tyack et al, pg. 174). I agree with this because students were brought to school to be taught different skills they could use at work or to get work.  Also, "Business interest in schools has largely involved private individuals and groups drawn from a variety of large, middle-sized, and small businesses. No monolithic business community, "Big Business," has shaped and steered U.S. public schools.""(Tyack et al, pg. 174). I also agree with this because no big businesses have contributed to the U.S. school system.

     I argue and disagree with the fact that "Many political and educational reformers, even while condemning businessmen as robber barons, admired their insistence on scientific efficiency and professional management." (Tyack et al, pgs. 175-176).  This is because mostly politicians don't contribute to schooling. It is mostly people from the community that contribute to schooling. Also, I disagree with the fact that "Top corporate leaders and Business Roundtables claimed that these strategies had worked for Ford Motor Company, IBM, Xerox, Hewlett-Packard, and scores of other firms. If schools pursued these changes, they could revolutionize public schooling."(Tyack et al, pg. 178).  This is not possible because like I stated before, these big businessmen don't get involved with schooling. It's the people at the other end, for example, the superintendents, mayors, governors, and school principals who get involved with the school system. 

     I assume that "The few studies that have been done about teaching and learning in actual classrooms before the 1980's and since confirm that dominant patterns of teacher-centered instruction in both elementary and secondary schools have remained stable."(Tyack et al, pg. 179). I assume this because I believe it has remained stable since then. I also assume that "If anything, the impact of standards-based performance and accountability for test score improvement has hardened these traditional teaching practices."(Tyack et al, pgs. 179-180). I also assume this because I believe testing has definitely impacted the way teachers teach. It has made a huge difference. 

     Lastly, I aspire to participate in changing our school system. This entire book talks about school and the school system. I also aspire to be sometime after I retire from being a cop (which I will be one day, hopefully) is to be a part of our school system and maybe go on to teach in the field of Criminal Justice. Since this book and course is all about school, my idea of teaching Criminal Justice relates to the topic of discussion. It ties in with the topic. 

     In conclusion, this is what school was like 1980 to the present. There were some things that I agreed and disagreed with and I mentioned those above. This was a great read. In this book, I really got to know how schooling changed overtime. Also, I learned what steps had to be taken to have the type of schooling that we have today.

https://www.google.com/search?q=schools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPuq_G59bdAhWPUt8KHUNnCNgQ_AUIECgD&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=bSGjUkxdgNsD9M:

Florida education board approves schools for 'hope' money

                                                                References

1. Mondale, S., Streep, M., Tyack, D., Anderson, J.D., Cuban, L., Kaestle, C.F., Ravitch, D., Bernard, S.C. (2001). School: The Story of American Public Education. Boston, MA: Beacon Press.

2. https://www.google.com/search?q=schools&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjPuq_G59bdAhWPUt8KHUNnCNgQ_AUIECgD&biw=1366&bih=657#imgrc=bSGjUkxdgNsD9M:

Florida education board approves schools for 'hope' money