Overview

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Philosophical examination of issues related to the school as an educational institution with social and political connections. Issues examined include: the education/training distinction; the justification of education; compulsory curriculum; freedom and authority in education; equality of educational opportunity; legal-moral questions central to educational administration; teachers'/parents'/students' rights and duties; accountability; and the logic of decision-making. Students with credit for EDUC 831 may not take this course for further credit.

COURSE DETAILS:

 

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

The term “seminar” comes from the Latin “seminarium” (a nursery) which carries the root “semen” (or “seed”) which also roots terms such as “seminary” (a religious school for training clergy). The political, cultural, and social details carried by this concept are important because they reveal information about the foundational (yet often invisible) ideological values and concepts underlying university education. Of course in modern usage, “seminar” refers to a group of students working closely under the guidance of a professor. And it is in this sense that the course will practically be organized.

In this offering of Educ 921 in fall 2017 we will critically study the social and cultural foundations of education, and examine the underlying, and often invisible, social and cultural ideologies that shape schooling. Drawing on fields including history, philosophy, cultural studies, sociology, and others, the work of the course will be to develop the language and skills with which to excavate and situate students’ own topics of interest/ research projects within a socio-political, historical and cultural context. Ultimately, this work is intended to have students examine, understand, and articulate the relationships among their topics, schooling, education, and society at large.

Drawing on the specific topics of interests of the group, we will collaboratively design the schedule and goals for the semester. Readings and assignments will also be determined from discussion in session 1. Thus it is imperative that students attend the first class session so their goals and research interests can be represented in the planning.

Students should get familiar logging in to Canvas. We will use Canvas space to share resources and sustain dialogue.

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