Education

http://www.sullivancountyhistory.org/school.htm

‘‘. . . [I]t is believed that the most effectual means

of preventing [tyranny] would be, to illuminate, as

far as practicable, the minds of the people at large,

and more especially to give them knowledge of

those facts, which history exhibiteth, that . . . they

may be enabled to know . . .’’

Thomas Jefferson’s ‘‘Bill forthe more general diffusion of knowledge’’ (1779).

Socialization

• 2nd only to family in importance

• Displaced organized religion as main purveyor of formal knowledge

• K-12 = 13,000 hours in a class room

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

Education in The Past• 300 years ago only

small minority could read and write

• One century ago most people of the world never attended school

• 1950-only 10% of world’s countries had a system of mass education

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

Today• Every country in the world has a system of

mass education– Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

• 1995: Average American completed 16 years of school – 9 years in 1950 – 2007-2011: 85.4% of U.S. 25 + high school

graduate– 28.2% of U.S. 25 + college graduates

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

Reason for Spread of Man Education

• I. Protestant Reformation

– Catholic church relied on dogma and ritual.

– Bible alone should be guide

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761570003/Luther_Martin.html

II. French & American Revolutions

• Learning for all people

http://www.pbs.org/ktca/liberty/libertytoday/index.html

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

III. Industrialization

Industrialization

Formal education not needed to work .

Factories & offices called for literate & numerate workers

• Formal education not needed for many of the jobs/work of the past.

• Industrialization create need for literate & numerate workers.

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

Credential Inflation

• One century ago most professors at universities did not have PhD's.

• Credential inflation makes it easy to sort out people.

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

ProfessionalizationOccurs when members of an occupationinsist that people earn certain credentials inorder to enter the occupation.

1. ensures standards are maintained2. ensures high pay3. is spreading rapidly

Sociology: Your Compass for a New World, Brym & Lie

Nursing

• Nursing followed a process of professionalization

– schooling– professional association– licensure, – code of ethics

• http://home.cwru.edu/~pst/

http://www.ufcw141nurses.org/images.htm

The World Clown Association began in 1983 with the vision of a few clowns for an organization that would

focus on education in clown arts and spread the art of clowning around the world.

http://www.worldclownassociation.com/history.htm

Educational Crisis in the

U.S?

http://www.schoolsucks.com/

GETncm/justsaycust-recrate-itemcommunittg/stores/dtg/stores/d-favorite-listrue

National Commission on Excellence in Education, 1983

• SAT scores dropped 1960-1980

– SAT average took a one-point dip between 1998 & 1999

– 1997 SAT changes

– SAT & Social Economic Status

Back to Basics Movement• NCE Proposal

– Longer school days

– More homework

– Stronger discipline

– Get rid of physical ed., music, art, etc.

Problems• Back to basic movement doesn’t work on its own

– Need community & parent involvement

• Can increase dropout rate• Can create low-self esteem• Studies pointing to links between music & higher

math scores• Are we a society of only math, reading &

science?• Americans are becoming increasingly obese

Mathematics Nation AverageTIMSS 1999 (8th grade)

• Singapore 604• Korea, Republic of 587• Chinese Taipei 585• Hong Kong SAR 582• Japan 579• BelgiumFlemish 558• Netherlands 540• Slovak Republic 534• Hungary 532• Canada 531• Slovenia 530• Russian Federation 526

• Australia 525• Finland 520• Czech Republic 520• Malaysia 519 • Bulgaria 511• Latvia-LSS505• United States 502

http://nces.ed.gov/timss/results.asp#mathscience1999

U.S. TIMSS Results 1999

• Lower for 8th graders in 1999 than it was for 4th graders in 1995.

• Same cohort.

http://nces.ed.gov/timss/results.asp#comparison1995to1999

TIMSS Problems• Guidelines

• Final year

• Dropout rate

• Trade school programs

• US tries to make sure as many kids as possible graduate– Discipline vs. ample opportunity?

• http://www.theatlantic.com/issues/97oct/fail.htm