What do we REALLY want from schools

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• What do we REALLY want from schools?
• Who should learn what?
• What is the purpose of schools?
• Educational Goals

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• What do we REALLY want from schools?
• Who should learn what?
• (Hass) .. All civilized societies establish
  schools and programs of education in order to
  induct the young into the culture and to transmit
  the societys culture and values.
• (Goodlad).. Schools in our society are called
  upon to perform two distinctive functions
• Enculturate the young into a social and political
  democracy, and
• Introduce the young to those canons of reasoning
  central to intelligent, satisfying participation
  in the human conversation.

Is this true?
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Are these lists the same? Do they match the
previous page?

• Goodlad. Parents want school to fulfill all four
  sets of functions with no more than half the
  parents willing to agree on any one function as
  primary.
• 1. Academic
• 2. Social/civic
• 3. Personal
• 4. Vocational

• Hass and Parkay The Goals of Education are
• 1. Citizenship
• 2. Vocation
• 3. Self-Realization
• 4. Critical Thinking

Which of these is most/least important?
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1993 Appleton Area School District Survey - Seven
groups participated in the survey. Expectations
for graduates.

• Most valued
• Reading
• Writing
• Arithmetic
• Listening
• Responsibility
• Problem Solving
• Acquiring Information
• Self esteem
• Team work
• Integrity

• Least valued
• 35. Foreign language
• 34. Fine arts
• 33. Alternative political/ economic systems
• 32. Scientific method
• 31. Natural science
• 30. Global diversity
• 29. Leadership
• 28. Geography
• 27. Quality service
• 26. Family relations

What does this say we want?
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Partners in Education Council Desired Student
Outcome Focus Groups Findings Oshkosh Chamber of
Commerce Summer, 2009 69 participants

• HS Grads
• Time management
• Scholarship applications
• Cultural communication
• 21-23 year olds
• Home maintenance
• Economics
• Technical skills
• 23-28 year olds
• Awareness of competitive world
• Politics
• Business HR people
• Financial budgeting
• Internet tools
• Lifelong learner

• Educators
• Acceptance of different cultures
• Verbal thoughts
• Digital citizenship
• Diversity appreciation
• Facebook etiquette
• Parents of 18-28 year olds
• Life skills -- insurance health
• Global awareness

Knowledge Areas (post-its dots) Life
skills...727 Next steps...210 Soft
skill.....116 Career knowledge15
Conclusion -- PIEs Desired Student Outcome
Graduating students will have an in depth
understanding of their career and life path
options, together with the knowledge of what they
should and should not do to pursue these paths
and lead a successful and productive life.
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Oshkosh PIE (post-its and dots totals combined,
Modified Affinity process)
Finance 125 Communications/language 124 Job/school
application 90 Character development 76 Interpers
onal skills 61 Post-secondary options 50 Global
awareness 45 Time management 41 Home
ownership/maintenance 40 Problem
solving 38 Social skills 35 Awareness of real
competitive world 34 Self awareness 33 Technologic
al skills 31 Standardized tests 29 Financial
realities of college 26 good citizen
development 23
Emotional coping 17 Community service 17 Career
options 15 Politics/current events
14 Economics 7 Self defense 7 Military 6 Law
6 Health 5 Philosophy 1
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Project 2061 (Nelson) -- American Assoc. for the
Advancement of Science Utility -- Will the
knowledge or skill significantly enhance
long-term employment or educational prospects and
personal decision making? Social Responsibility
-- Will the content help citizens participate
intelligently in making social and political
decisions? Intrinsic Value of the Knowledge --
Does the content have pervasive cultural or
historical significance? Philosophical Value --
Does the content help individuals ponder the
enduring questions of what it means to be
human. Childhood enrichment -- Will the content
enhance the unique experiences and values of
childhood?
How do these match Goodlad, Hass and Appletons
lists?
Choosing content thats worth knowing,
Educational Leadership, October 2001
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National Purposes of Education 1620-1770 Religious
training, moral development, 3Rs 1770-1820s Kno
wledge necessary for either trade/commerce or
university, literacy emphasis to continue
democratic form of government 1820-1890s Establish
ment of common schooling, basic tools of literacy
for practical education, moral values (McGuffey
readers), melting pot theme, cultivation of
American identity and loyalty 1880-1940s Child
centered, activities and experiences emphasized
rather than mastery of facts, cooperative
activities, citizenship and self-adjustment,
problem solving
Who was in school, for how long, for what purpose?
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1940-1960s Structure of the discipline, discovery
method of teaching, career education, National
Defense Education Act (1958) -- to ensure an
adequate supply of scientists, engineers and
individuals with specialized training in foreign
languages for college loans and graduate
fellowships (think Sputnik - 1957) Coleman
Report (1965) -- parental SES is primary
predictor of school success Elementary
Secondary Ed Act (1965) -- expand and improve
opportunities for Americas educationally
disadvantaged children through compensatory
programs for the poor War on Poverty
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1970s Multicultural education, mainstreaming,
flexible curriculum, emphasis on equity,
Education for All Handicapped Children (PL
94-142) 1980s Back to Basics movement, A Nation
at Risk (1983), emphasis on academic excellence,
reinvigorate programs for high-achieving
students President Reagan 1984 Strengthening
values also demands a national commitment to
excellent in education Americas schools need
tougher standards, more homework,merit pay for
teachers, discipline, and parents back in
charge. 1990s Goals 2000 (President Bush I),
Standards, testing, recognition of desperate
condition of urban education, growing attention
to achievement gaps 2000s NCLB (2001) race and
income-based achievement gaps, universal
proficiency
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What are we trying to achieve here?
Higher Education Liberal Arts Professional
Vocational ????
Business/Industry Training Process New product
updates Leadership and growth ????
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• 21st Century Learning
• Emphasize core subjects
• Emphasize learning skills (information and
  communication, thinking and problem solving,
  interpersonal and self-directional skills)
• Use 21st Century tools to develop skills
• Teach and learn in a 21st Century context
• Teach and learn 21st Century content (global
  awareness, financial/economic/business literacy,
  civic literacy)
• Use 21st Century assessments (balance
  standardized assessments with classroom
  assessments)

Do these mesh with any of the other goals
mentioned?
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What do we REALLY want from schools? Who should
learn what? Which goals valid for today?
Tomorrow? What goals do you advocate?
(prioritize list) What does your school
advocate? What does your community want? Are
these goals different than individual classroom
goals? Are these higher educations goals? Are
these business and industry training goals? What
do we need from education today?