Assignment:
Select one issue related to school reform.
Select and read 2-3 resources to explore this issue.
In an approximately 3-4 pg. essay, answer the following:
Provide general information about your school reform-related issue (2-3 paragraphs).
What is it? Explain it in detail.
Why is it an issue or concern for today’s schools?
Why does school reform-related issue interest you?
What are/were your views of this issue before researching for this project?
Explain the varying points of view regarding this school reform issue (2-3 paragraphs).
Explain one perspective and provide 2 – 3 reasons for supporting this perspective. What would be the impact on schools based on this perspective?
Explain another perspective and provide 2 – 3 reasons for supporting this perspective, What would be the impact on schools based on this perspective?
Optional – give a third perspective and provide 2 – 3 reasons for supporting this perspective. What would be the impact on schools based on this perspective?
Results of your brief research (2-3 paragraphs)
Explain how and why your beliefs about this issue have or have not changed based on your brief research.
Describe/explain the questions you still have about this issue. What more would you like to know/do you need to know? (Do not respond that you do not need to know more. There is always more to learn. Seek out what you do not know and explain that here.)
Explain what impact this school reform issue may have on future teachers. Include what could happen in one or more of the various perspectives you explore happen/take place.
Examples of School Reform Issues:
Whether to establish national standards instead of state standards (Instead of having individual state standards like the TEKS, there would be national standards that all students in all states would have to meet/master.)
Testing students more often vs testing students less often
Paying teachers more money because they already deserve it vs paying teachers based on student performance on standardized tests (merit pay) vs no increased pay at all
School Choice (allowing parents to select their children’s public schools)
Vouchers (government money given to parents/guardians that allows their children to attend a nonpublic school)
Zero Tolerance Policies
Technology Access
School to Prison Pipeline (the concept that children of color are punished more frequently for offenses less egregious than white students, and that this sets them up for being in trouble with police, which ultimately sets them up for prison sentences)