Lec 10: SCHOOL AND THE PURPOSE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

What are the origins of secondary education?

• Industrial revolution

• Urbanization 

  • School used to only be for the elite 

  • Being in these cities made it so that more kids could go to school  

• Immigration 

  • Makes immigrants assimilate to our culture 

• 1920- comprehensive high school 

  • School became required to kids 

School Reform: 50s-90s

• 1950 

  • Math and science

• 1970s 

  • Work-study programs 

  • Career education 

• 1980s 

  • Back to math and science (“basics”) 

• 1990s 

  • Critical thinking 

  • The basics + higher order thinking

  • Learning and applying 

School Reform: 2000-2014+

• 2000s

  • 2002- No child left behind

  • Standard-based reform 

  • Making tests easier to pass so that schools/teachers get funding

• 2014 

  • Common core 

  • Set of standards that schools have to meet 

  • issues with funding

How does our education compare internationally?

• We are below global average for math, and slightly above average for reading 

• We go to school for less time, shorter days and shorter school years 

What is the best school structure?

• smaller schools are best, ideal size being 500-1,000 students

• Class size of 20-40 students with the exception of elementary school and when a student needs individual attention

What is the best predictor of doing well in school?

• Being engaged in school/extra curriculars. Easier at a smaller school

• When you feel connected to something, you care more 

• When you’re in a larger school you’re more anonymous

Which is the better transition, 6-2-4 or 8-4?

8-4 because the transition should follow adolescent development

Simmons and Blythe (1987)

• K-8 girls have better self-esteem,

• Developmental readiness- going through multiple changes, two huge transitions (new school, puberty/bio changes)  before you’re developmentally ready

• Changes in school is worse because teachers are treating you differently, harder to adjust to new environment

Stage environment mismatch (Jackie Eccles et al. 1993)

• Transitioning from elementary to middle school introduces environmental (school size and structure) and climate changes (teachers)

• Have more autonomy and trust from teachers in 6th grade, then transition to 7th and have to adjust to a stricter environment with less support

• Environment is not matching the developmental needs of where kids are (the mismatch) 

How does the mismatch affect grades?

• People who have low teacher support and dislike for the class has grades decrease 

• Higher support makes grade go up 

• Once teacher stops valuing students, the grades really begin to drop 

• The climate affects learning, efficacy and perceived support go hand in hand  

Benner and Graham (2009)

• Congruent vs incongruent connections 

  • Less or more of your race at your school 

• When you don’t have people that look like you, you experience more stress

• Tested on black and latino youth 

How does tracking effect a schools climate? Pros and Cons

• It's great for those who are smart “rich get richer” parallel 

• Kids who are behind or average do worse because they get left behind 

• Positives

  • Positive for high-tracked students 

• Negatives

  • Worse for low-racked students   

How should schools be structured instead of tracking?

Want an integrated class where you can challenge the kids who are exceeding but also give the necessary attention to those who are doing words and need it

What do after school activities matter in terms of delinquency?

• Violence in schools is decreasing 

  • Youth are more likely to face violence outside of school rather than inside 

  • Peak time for crime for adults is after 10, peak for adolescents is after school 

Do zero tolerance policies work?

No, the more suspensions a student experiences, the more likely they are to drop out. It is also discriminatory against POC youth, they are more likely to face harsher punishments than their white peers.

Okonofua and Eberhardt, 2015

• First infraction, no racial bias 

• Second infraction, black students start to be perceived differently by teachers, but not white 

  • Affects climate 

School to prison pipeline 

School referrals to justice system going up even though violence is going down