National School Reform : The Early Cold War Era
The authors provide an overview of James B. Conant and his vision of the comprehensive high school. Today, U.S. high schools are the subject of renewed discussion as secondary student achievement and dropout rates, especially among minority students, continue to cause concern.
Currently, you can find a great deal of information about various reforms that are being discussed and/or implemented for American high schools today on the Internet.
The authors provide an overview of James B. Conant and his vision of the comprehensive high school. Today, U.S. high schools are the subject of renewed discussion as secondary student achievement and dropout rates, especially among minority students, continue to cause concern.
You can find a great deal of information about various reforms that are being discussed and/or implemented for American high schools today on the Internet. Try different keywords such as “small schools,” “freshman academies,” or “restructuring high schools.” Start at
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40177469?uid=3739832&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101249486563
http://www.hepg.org/her/booknote/102 for a detailed and current argument on behalf of this model. Then take a look at sites that advocate different approaches, some of which are listed below. What do you think makes sense?
Small Schools Project
(http://www.smallschoolsproject.org/)
Ten Common Principles: The Coalition of Essential Schools
(http://www.essentialschools.org/resources/89)
Restructuring High Schools Can Improve Student Achievement
(http://www.wcer.wisc.edu/publications/highlights/v8n1.pdf)
In 2015 the focus is on the Common Core, By definition, the Common Core State Standards (CCSS; Corestandards.com) is a nationwide initiative that promotes a Common Core unified set of K-12 educational standards for the teaching of English language arts and math.
Assignment Guidelines:
1. After searching the internet, list and discuss what you feel are current reforms.
2. Whom do you feel determines the “national interest”?
3. How is national interest influenced by the Common Core?
4. How important is Common Core to the current presidential candidates?
5. Present the pros and cons of Common Core.
