Timeline

Check out my Timeline: http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/ginas-foundation-of-education

Note: Unknown exact date is listed as Jan 1st of that given year




Bibliography

Hanna, J. (2005). The elementary and secondary education act: forty years later. Harvard Graduate School of Education News Features & Releases. Retrieved from EBSCO host.

Maleyko, G. & Marytza. (2011). No child left behind: What we know and what we need to know. Education. 131, (3), 600-624. Retrieved from EBSCO host.

Martin, W., & Sull, P. (2000). Civil rights movement in the united states. New York: Macmillan

North Central Regional Educational Laboratory.(n. d.) Summary of Goals 2000: Educate America Act. Retrieved from Education Research Complete.

Ohio Department of Education: Office of Assessment (2010). Ohio state-wide assessment program rule book. Retrieved from ode.state.oh.us.

Ohio Department of Education.( n. d.) ARRA – Race for the Top. Retrieved from http://www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=560.

Ohio Department of Education. Frequently Asked Questions About Common Core State Standards. (n. d. Retrieved from
www.ode.state.oh.us/GD/Templates/Pages/ODE/ODEDetail.aspx?page=3&TopicRela...

Spring, Joel. The American School: A Global Context from The Puritans to The Obama Era, Eighth Edition. New York City: McGraw-Hill, 2011.

Unknown, Initials. (n.d.). John carroll's mission statement. Retrieved from http://www.jcu.edu/about/mission.htm

Unkown, Initials. (2011, July 18). Iowa tests of basic skills. Retrieved from http://www.csionline.org/documents/FAQsIowaTestsBasicSkills2.pdf

Unkown, Initials. (2011, July 17). Graduate record examinations. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graduate_Record_Examinations

Unkown, Initials. (2011, July 18). Act/frequently asked questions. Retrieved from http://www.act.org/aboutact/faq.html

Unkown, Initials. (2011, July 17). The first network email. Retrieved from http://openmap.bbn.com/~tomlinso/ray/firstemailframe.html

Unkown, Initials. (2011, July 18). History of cell phones. Retrieved from http://library.thinkquest.org/04oct/00047/historycell.htm

Unkown, Initials. (2007, Oct 10). Sputnik. Retrieved from http://history.nasa.gov/sputnik/

Unknown, Initials. (2011, July 18). The facebook created. Retrieved from
http://www.facebook.com/press/info.php?factsheet

Vocational Training/Final Comments

Today’s discussion regarding how vocational training is promoting a class division sparked my interest. As Spring stated, vocational guidance was created to aid students in selecting which career path would be best suited for them.  Who has the right to tell anyone that he/she is only capable of a specific career? There is a definite line between being told which career path to take and having it as an option.

One of my concerns that I did not mention during class about vocational training, is there is always the possibility of jobs becoming obsolete or being outsourced to another country.  Vocational training does not provide critical thinking skills individuals need to cross the employment spectrum. College provides the skill set that will enable any individual to enter any type of field and become successful.

Also, as the last blog post for this class, I must say how much I have enjoyed the discussion throughout the past four weeks. Prior to entering Foundation of Education, I never examined my own educational history in a governmental perspective. The government has shaped my views of education and I was not even aware of it.

One of the great aspects of this class was the opportunity to reflect on the past and look at the challenges in the future in education for ourselves as well as our students. I know I am a better educator as a result of this experience.  

Timeline

http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/ginas-foundation-of-education

No Child Left Behind Act

                After my discussion with Liz, I thought I would explore more of my views regarding the No Child Left Behind Act. Most people in the educational field are aware of some of the provisions of New Child Left Behind legislation.  This law was signed by President Bush on Jan. 23, 2001 as a comprehensive reform to education. This law had major components:  “stronger accountability for results, expanded flexibility and local control, more options for parents and emphasis on teaching methods that proven to work” (http://2.ed.gov/nclb/overview/intro/factsheet.html).

                As a requirement of Learning and Teaching, we reviewed the provisions of NCLS and reviewed content standards books for our discipline.  We learned that teachers need to incorporate these standards daily into their lesson plans.  We learned that school districts are judged as excellent, effective, in academic watch, or in academic emergency based on the performance of their students on these state-mandated tests. We were also presented information about parents’ rights to transfer their children to better-performing schools if their home school was failing.  We also learned how the federal government supports charter schools.

                As a student, I know an excellent administrator who was fired because of the lack of progress of his students on achievement tests. I know of teachers who were re-assigned because of the low performance of their students. I know that some schools became over crowded due to parents transferring their students out of failing schools. All these actions were taken as a result of NCLB.

                In my opinion, there are many questions surrounding the effectiveness of NCLB.  Since 2005 have students’ test scores improved?  Are teachers more effective because of NCLB, or have they become more effective at teaching to the test? Are special education students and non-English speaking children receiving a better education due to NCLB?

                Overall, students seem to be performing better on state-mandated achievement tests, in reality we cannot valid this information. As we cannot compare students performance nationally as each state has its’ own tests and each one sets its’ own cut-off score.  One cannot even compare the performance of students state to state using National Assessment Educational Progress.

                From my classroom observations, I believe that teachers are teaching to the test. They are required to follow the content standards and prepare their lesson plans based on these standards. Teachers are concerned for their well-being, if their students fail these tests. I have seen limited English proficient students leaving the classroom for special tutoring for these tests. 

                I believe that some provisions of NCLB have improved the education of our nation’s students however, I am not certain that blaming teachers for the failure of their disadvantaged students on federally mandated tests is the answer.  Some of our nation’s best teachers work in high poverty, minority schools.         

Reflection of the Timeline

I am finding that creating a personal time line while incorporating educational events is meaningful experience.  As I do my research, I look at what was happening in education and my personal school experiences.  I recall how I felt when I transferred to public school and took the nine grade proficiency tests.  I remember hearing about some of my classmates receiving blank diplomas. The most interesting finding from my research is the realization that the federal government is seizing more and more control over education. I am concerned that teachers will no longer be allowed to make curriculum decisions.

Who Are Today's Students

Sonia Nieto made an excellent point in her passage, “Racism, Discrimination, and Expectations on Students’ Achievement” that individuals of lower economic status should not blame their educational problems on the dominate cultural or race. It is more difficult for people of low socio-economic backgrounds to succeed due to their limited resources, but it is still possible. When someone is determined to succeed he/she will not be deterred by anyone.  A determined goal-oriented person is unstoppable.  

Every human being is discriminated against in some manner.  For instance, my hometown is Ashtabula, Ohio, where there is little to no economic development.  About a year ago, I was introduced to Dan,   my boyfriend’s friend.  Dan asked where I was from and so I said, “Ashtabula, Ohio.”  To my shock, he immediately laughed.  I did not feel it was appropriate for me to ask him why he laughed.  A few weeks later, we meet again, and I made a comment referring to Ashtabula and he laughed again. This time I asked him why he laughed: he stated, “Trashtabula.” From this reference, I felt as if he was calling me trash. I was immediately offended. As the discussion deepened, he asked where I was going for graduate school.  When I had said, “John Carroll University” he was floored: imagine, a person from Ashtabula, Ohio capable of achieving a masters degree from John Carroll.

This example portrays why it is so important not to point the finger at any one group for our current educational problems.  It would be more beneficial to have explorative discussions to improve the educational system for everyone.  Everyone needs to examine how they contribute to the continuation of stereotypes and bias. These topics need to be address in the media and in schools across this nation.  This will only occur if we determine this is a serious problem.

Why I Want To Become A Teacher

The first time I contemplated becoming a teacher was during my sophomore year of college. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work at Kent State’s Child Development Center. At the center, I was a student assistant who monitored and interacted with three to five year old children.  One four year old boy, Aiden, captured my heart.  Every day I looked forward to seeing all of the students, but especially Aiden. One Monday morning, I had woke up late for a class, my phone died, and everything just seemed to be going wrong.  As soon I stepped inside the classroom and saw Aiden’s face, nothing mattered. I did not mention anything that had previously taken place, as soon as I sat down on the floor; Aiden ran up to me and gave me a hug. Six years later, I still remember that hug.

I always knew I wanted to make my own mark on the world. Teaching social studies to high school student is my way of giving back and creating a better world for young people.  Education has always been a top priority for me.  I want my students to be successful. I believe young people they should create their own definition of success. As a teacher, I intent to guide them to creatively develop their interest and intellect as they learn .I want to know my students, such as Aiden, will have the tools to conquer them any challenges they face.