Social, Cultural, Economic, and Political Factors of Education and Schooling

This week we focused on the social, cultural, economical and political factors of education and schooling.

Our group focused on the social/cultural issues for this assignment.
We discussed in a power point presentation, Diversity, Multicultural Societies, Curriculum changes over the years based on social influences, and the History of Education.

Schools have tried to meet many divergent needs. Parents, teachers, and students alike expect schools to meet academic, vocational, social, civic, and personal goals.

Changing to the needs of a multicultural society, preparing students for the world of work, improving education, diversity, and providing social and economic mobility are major contributors to the education system.

There are many contributors to the educational curriculum; government, parents, community groups, Federal, State and local governments, professional organizations and special interest groups.

Social factors
Peer Pressure, adjustment and emotional problems, troubled adolescents. Many schools are increasing their focus on students social and personal needs as well as their academic needs.
Many schools have implemented extra curricular activities with hopes they will encourage students self-esteem, improve race relations, and encourage civic duties.

Culture
A significant curricular trend is the development of critical thinking skills. Educators believe that thinking must be taught directly and must be infused with the scope of subject matter content. Over many centuries this trend has evolved, but by the 1980's we were back to the basics. Triggered by the problem of declining test scores, this movement stressed achievement in the traditional subject-matter areas. Most reform reports urge a return to a core curriculum. Today we use National and State standards as a way of unifying and improving schools, of course this brings with it it's own form of controversy. Are teachers teaching to the test?

"Curricula have two functions. One function is to preserve and transmit to students the culture and traditions of the past. The other is to anticipate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that today's students will need in order to function effectively in tomorrow's society."

This leads us to next weeks topic "Teachers as Change Agents". Are teachers today Change Agents and can they anticipate the knowledge skills, and abilities that today's students will need in order to function effectively in tomorrow's society........