Chapter 6 of "Teachers, Schools and Society" focuses on curriculum, standards and testing. The chapter opens with a history of curriculum in the United States from colonial times to the present day. Schools have always been a place of inclusion for some and exclusion for others. The explicit or formal curriculum in schools continues to carry this historical tradition of silencing certain voices while favoring others.
Curriculum Variations Implicit/hidden curriculum and null curriculum which reinforce the status quo of larger society do nothing to liberate students or school faculty. For negative implicit curriculum to change, the first step is simply to recognize it as harmful. When silenced voices are heard and considered, the null curriculum is also challenged. The extra curriculum includes school activities outside the regular school day such as sports, fine arts, and school clubs. When access to such groups demands high participation fees or strong academic standing, students from poor and working-class families are more likely to be denied participation. In order for equal access to such activities, schools must provide routes for all students to participate and find success.
Curriculum Influences Despite the variety of curriculum facets, schools are most often criticized and evaluated by the media, state and local governments and communities based on their formal or official curriculum. There are many factors that work to influence and impact school's curriculum. These include parents, state and local government, big business, publishers, standardized tests, and school administration. Amongst all these voices, it is important to listen for those that have been silenced and resist capitalistic encroachment of educational freedoms.
Technology Technology has been praised as the best thing for students in the classroom. As schools are pushed to use technology including computers, laptops, iPads, Smartboards etc. in greater and new ways, teachers feel out of place or uncomfortable. Flexibility and the capacity to learn and be open to new new technology is important for veteran and rookie teachers alike. The gap between technology have and have-nots, aka the digital divide, runs along racial and gender lines. In order for such divisions to be challenged and changed, larger societal inequalities must be addressed.
Textbooks Despite increasing use of technology in the classroom, textbooks serve as the primary resource for schools and students. The United States is split into two camps regarding the freedom for schools to independently choose textbooks: textbook nonadoption states in the north and textbook adoption states in the south. Four adoption states (California, Florida, Texas and North Carolina) capitalize the textbook market because of their size and effectively control what textbook companies write for schools nationwide. The standardization movement further works to "dumb down" textbooks in order to reach certain students. Despite their challenges and numerous downfalls, textbooks can be useful tools in a critical classroom. At best, the author's note, a text can serve as a catalyst for change.
the Standards Movement Since the late 1980s, schools in the United States have increasingly moved towards a standards-based education system. Though standards can help support and focus student learning, questioning what the standards are and who creates them is important to critical learning and teaching. Federal No Child Left Behind legislation took standards and standarization of schools to higher and deeper levels by labeling 'failing' schools, creating a 'high-stakes' testing environment and limiting teachers and classroom instruction. Hinging school success on one standardized test is poor policy and practice. Tests are not free from bias and more often than not white, middle-class students are those who benefit at the expense of poor and working-class children or students of color. Ultimately it is not the ability to regurgitate information for a test, but the ability to think critically and act with empathy and compassion that proves valuable.
Alternatives Challenging the notion of a single assessment making or breaking a student's success, schools are moving to 'authentic assessment', a broader and deeper view of student learning. With a focus on synthesizing knowledge across content areas and actively using knowledge to define and solve real world challenges, the whole student is better recognized and celebrated.
Check out the chapter 6 word map here ---> Curriculum, Standards, Testing
Curriculum Variations Implicit/hidden curriculum and null curriculum which reinforce the status quo of larger society do nothing to liberate students or school faculty. For negative implicit curriculum to change, the first step is simply to recognize it as harmful. When silenced voices are heard and considered, the null curriculum is also challenged. The extra curriculum includes school activities outside the regular school day such as sports, fine arts, and school clubs. When access to such groups demands high participation fees or strong academic standing, students from poor and working-class families are more likely to be denied participation. In order for equal access to such activities, schools must provide routes for all students to participate and find success.
Curriculum Influences Despite the variety of curriculum facets, schools are most often criticized and evaluated by the media, state and local governments and communities based on their formal or official curriculum. There are many factors that work to influence and impact school's curriculum. These include parents, state and local government, big business, publishers, standardized tests, and school administration. Amongst all these voices, it is important to listen for those that have been silenced and resist capitalistic encroachment of educational freedoms.
Technology Technology has been praised as the best thing for students in the classroom. As schools are pushed to use technology including computers, laptops, iPads, Smartboards etc. in greater and new ways, teachers feel out of place or uncomfortable. Flexibility and the capacity to learn and be open to new new technology is important for veteran and rookie teachers alike. The gap between technology have and have-nots, aka the digital divide, runs along racial and gender lines. In order for such divisions to be challenged and changed, larger societal inequalities must be addressed.
Textbooks Despite increasing use of technology in the classroom, textbooks serve as the primary resource for schools and students. The United States is split into two camps regarding the freedom for schools to independently choose textbooks: textbook nonadoption states in the north and textbook adoption states in the south. Four adoption states (California, Florida, Texas and North Carolina) capitalize the textbook market because of their size and effectively control what textbook companies write for schools nationwide. The standardization movement further works to "dumb down" textbooks in order to reach certain students. Despite their challenges and numerous downfalls, textbooks can be useful tools in a critical classroom. At best, the author's note, a text can serve as a catalyst for change.
the Standards Movement Since the late 1980s, schools in the United States have increasingly moved towards a standards-based education system. Though standards can help support and focus student learning, questioning what the standards are and who creates them is important to critical learning and teaching. Federal No Child Left Behind legislation took standards and standarization of schools to higher and deeper levels by labeling 'failing' schools, creating a 'high-stakes' testing environment and limiting teachers and classroom instruction. Hinging school success on one standardized test is poor policy and practice. Tests are not free from bias and more often than not white, middle-class students are those who benefit at the expense of poor and working-class children or students of color. Ultimately it is not the ability to regurgitate information for a test, but the ability to think critically and act with empathy and compassion that proves valuable.
Alternatives Challenging the notion of a single assessment making or breaking a student's success, schools are moving to 'authentic assessment', a broader and deeper view of student learning. With a focus on synthesizing knowledge across content areas and actively using knowledge to define and solve real world challenges, the whole student is better recognized and celebrated.
Check out the chapter 6 word map here ---> Curriculum, Standards, Testing
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