EDUCATION
SO C IA L A C T I O N T O O LKI T FROM INSPIRATION TO ACTION SOCIAL ACTION TOOKITS PRODUCED WITH PURPOSE
EDUCATION
SOCIAL ACTION TOOKITS PRODUCED WITH PURPOSE
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela
“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” - Aristotle
“Maybe the problem with the traditional education model is adults ... children can teach themselves.” – From Disruptive Education, a film by Amanda Horvath
In Amanda Horvath’s film, Disruptive Education, we get a glimpse into one “disruptive” or alternative school and its mission to put children in the driver’s seat of their education.
WHAT WE CAN DO/WHY WE SHOULD CARE
You don’t have to be a student or have a child in school to care about the state of the education system in the U.S. In fact, everyone should be concerned about an institution this large. In 2010, there were 98,817 public schools, 33,366 private schools, and 1,296 alternative/special education/non-grade-classified schools in the U.S. That adds up to almost 50 million students in public schools and about 5 million students in private schools . As one of the largest institutions in the country, it can have a huge impact on society, for better or for worse. Below are resources to get informed and actions you can take to improve education in the U.S.
GET INFORMED GET SCHOOLED ON THE HISTORY OF EDUCATION IN THE U.S.: A (brief) modern history
Since public education became compulsory in the United States, there have been widespread efforts to standardize, reform, and re-invent the system. The history is in some ways brief: Massachusetts was the first state to make school mandatory in 1852. Mississippi was the last state in 1918. From one-room school houses to sprawling campuses, schools in the U.S. have served the myriad purposes of moral enforcement, social indoctrination, preparation of a future workforce destined for factories, and control for a growing population of young people who by the 1930s were no longer able to work legally in these factories.
“Social reformers lobbied teachers to become the caretakers for youngsters who might otherwise roam footloose on city stree ts during their parents’ long factory hours” -(Lipton & Oakes, 1999, p. 6).
ARE SCHOOLS MODERN FACTORIES? Images from Larry Cuban on School Reform and Classroom Practice, “Schools as factories: Metaphors that Stick”
GET INFORMED “Our schools are, in a sense, factories in which the raw products (children) are to be shaped and fashioned into products to meet the various demands of life.”
Many schools did and still do look a lot like factories - big buildings, rows of seats, bells, and rigid schedules. Things we take for granted in schools - classrooms of 20-30 students with one adult (usually a woman) at the front of the room, 45min-1hr periods separated by a ringing bell, students expected to be silent when an authority figure does most of the talking – are all very similar to what factories looked like during the industrial era. This is not a coincidence! Horace Mann, who is sometimes called “the father of the American public school system,” studied the Prussian-Industrial model designed by Frederick the Great before implementing the model in U.S. schools. “Focusing on following directions, basic skills, and conformity, he sought to indoctrinate the nation from an early age. Isolating students in rows and teachers in individual classrooms fashioned a strict hierarchy—intentionally fostering fear and loneliness.”
ARTICLES ON THE FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN EDUCATION: Timeline of Young People’s Rights in the United States How to Break Free of Our 19th Century Factory Model Education System – The Atlantic A Factory Model for Schools no Longer Works – Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel The idea of public school, or the “common school,” shifted as political and social desires shifted, but the legacy remains. The effort to use schools to preserve dominant culture and “Americanize newcomers” could be seen in its early days: “When schoolchildren first recited the “Pledge of Allegiance” on Columbus Day in 1892, their teachers were told to have students follow the Pledge by shouting, “One Country! One Flag! One Language!” Over 100 years later, an eerily similar sentiment was expressed in the strict limits to curriculum dictated by the governor and school boards in Arizona. In 2011, the state legislature there passed a law banning schools and teachers from using curriculum geared towards a specific ethic group. Mexican American Studies programs lost funding, and in a state whose population is over 30% Latino (compared with nationwide 17%), suddenly Mexican American students were not allowed to learn their own history in school.
GET INFORMED ARTICLES ON ARIZONA ETHNIC STUDIES LAW: 5 Ways to Fight Back Against Arizona’s Racist Ethnic Studies Law - ColorLines Tucson’s Ousted Mexican-American Studies Director Speaks: The Fight’s Not Over - ColorLines
NOT ALL FACTORY MODELS – A BRIEF HISTORY OF PROGRESSIVE EDUCATION
A long legacy of progressive educators has accompanied this modern history of education. Their ideas and ideals have had important, positive impacts on education in the United States. A short list with some landmark works includes:
John Dewey - Experience and Education (1938) Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968) Maxine Greene – The Dialectic of Freedom (1988) Luis Moll – “Funds of Knowledge for Teaching” (1992) Linda Darling Hammond - The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future
GET INFORMED EDUCATION POLICY
Education policy has ushered in many shifts in the past 100 + years, much of it aimed at solving inequity and improving student performance:
Brown vs. Board of Education was a Supreme Court Case that ended legal segregation in schools The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (or IDEA) ensures that all students, regardless of ability, have access to resources that will enable them to get an education No Child Left Behind (NCLB) reauthorized the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) in attempt to ensure success for all students through standards-based education reform (i.e. standardized tests)
...and yet problems persist: Why so many people have worked to reform and disrupt the current state of education Despite all these shifts and efforts to address problems, the history of the education system in the U.S. has been plagued with chronic dysfunction disparity
Racial/Socio-Economic Disparity
“Poverty must not be a bar to learning, and learning must offer an escape from poverty,” - President Lyndon Johnson, 1965
School funding – One clear cause of inequity in public schools is funding. Much of elementary and secondary public school funding derives from property taxes. Meaning districts with higher property values (richer neighborhoods) will have much more money for schools than districts with lower property values (poorer neighborhoods).
GET INFORMED ARTICLES ON SCHOOL FUNDING: The Property Tax School Funding Dilemma – The Lincolnist Unequal School Funding in the United States – Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) How Public Schools are funded – University of Michigan Department of Psychology How do we Fund our Schools – PBS
“Achievement Gap” vs. “Opportunity Gap” – Language is important: If you have heard or used the term “Achievement gap” to define the discrepancy in academic performance among groups of students (namely White, higher income students performing better in school than their Black and Latino, lower income counterparts) the statement is not inaccurate, but it is misleading. Who or what is to blame for lack of achievement? “Achievement Gap” places the blame on the student, while “Opportunity Gap” points to the root cause of input.
“The opportunity gap is the disparity in access to quality schools and the resources needed for all children to be academically successful.”
ARTICLES ON THE OPPORTUNITY GAP: Examining Disparities in Mathematics Education – University of North Carolina PressOpportunity Gap – the Glossary of Education Reform Opportunity Gap – National Opportunity to Learn Opportunity Gap Talking Points – National Opportunity to Learn
GET INFORMED Factors affecting student learning – There are a multitude of factors affecting student learning: what a child does or does not eat for breakfast, what they experience when they leave school and go home at the end of the day, what support they have at home, etc. A great resource is NYU’s Metro Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools.
ARTICLES ON FACTORS THAT AFFECT STUDENT LEARNING: Defending Affirmative Action: A Popular Movement for Social Justice – Pedro Noguera Disparities Demystified – Pedro Noguera Racial Politics and The Elusive Quest for Excellence and Equity in Education – Pedro Noguera Factors that Influence Student Learning – Education Space 360 The Neighborhoods They Live in: The Effects of Neighborhood Residence on Child and Adolescent Outcomes – Psychological Bulletin
It is difficult to talk about school performance and long-lasting impact without discussing dropout rates in the U.S. 11 facts about dropout rates – Dosomething.org Dropout Crisis Facts – America’s Promise Alliance National Dropout Prevention Center/Network Statistics and Facts
It is also important to get knowledgeable on the destructive patterns and punitive “Zero Tolerance” policies making up the School to Prison Pipeline School to Prison Pipeline – American Civil Liberties Union The School to Prison Pipeline – Teaching Tolerance Fact Sheet: How bad is the School to Prison Pipeline - PBS Black Students and the School to Prison Pipeline – Aljazeera America
GET INFORMED
WHAT IS ACHIEVEMENT? HOW IS IT MEASURED? WHO DECIDES?
A problem underlying all of these issues rests in how achievement is measured in schools to begin with. Standardized tests account for a large part of how students (and teachers and schools) are measured. No Child Left Behind aimed to raise student achievement by setting high standards for all students, but does testing students against these standards necessarily ensure learning?
Articles about standardized testing: Standardized Tests Pros and Cons – ProCon.org Why Standardized Tests Don’t Measure Educational Quality – Educational Leadership High Stakes Testing - Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA)
A note on being wary about any wide impacting legislation that provides economic gains to certain industries: The Testing Industry’s Big Four - Frontline
GET INFORMED
ARTICLES ON ALTERNATIVES TO STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT Alternatives to Standardized Tests – Rethinking Schools
What else would we like to assess in a child’s education? Other indicators of learning and development – 15 Thriving Indicators – Search Institute Developmental Assets – Search Institute
GET INFORMED
REFORMING AND DISRUPTING
It’s not hard to see why many people are working to do something about the state of education. The exciting news is that you can join in! What some young people have to say about education Youth Researchers for a New Education System “A group of NYC high school students formed Youth Researchers For A New Education System (YRNES) in partnership with the Education is a Human Right Campaign to survey and interview NYC public school students. Their findings highlight the unequal distribution of resources in schools and call for greater participation of young people in decision-making about schooling.” Urban Youth Collaborative “Led by students, the Urban Youth Collaborative (UYC) brings together New York City students to fight for real education reform that puts students first. Demanding a high quality education for all students, our young people struggle for social, economic, and racial justice in our schools and communities.” We believe in the transformative power of youth organizing. We believe in movement building to heal our communities. We believe in the power of young people to shift structural systems and policy.
RESOURCES FOR EDUCATION REFORM Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA) is a national organization made up of educators, students, parents, organizers working to catalyze meaningful educational change based on democratic values and human rights. “IDEA surveys the educational landscape to showcase the highest quality resources and educational programs that support meaningful learning,” community development, and efforts to create systemic change. We call this process “curation.” On an ongoing basis, we identify, evaluate, and present top quality resources to educators, youth, parents, education decisionmakers, policy-makers, and the broad public.”
GET INFORMED National School Reform Faculty “The National School Reform FacultyTM organization empowers educators to create meaningful learning experiences for all, by collaborating effectively in reflective democratic communities that foster educational equity and social justice.” New York Collective of Radical Educators “New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCoRE) is a group of current and former public school educators and their allies committed to fighting for social justice in our school system and society at large, by organizing and mobilizing teachers, developing curriculum, and working with community, parent, and student organizations. We are educators who believe that education is an integral part of social change and that we must work both inside and outside the classroom because the struggle for justice does not end when the school bell rings.” Community Schools – an approach to education that takes an entire community into consideration
MODEL PUBLIC SCHOOLS El Puente Academy for Peace & Justice, Brooklyn, NY June Jordan School for Equity, San Francisco, CA Green Dot Public Schools: http://www.greendot.org/ Rowland High School: http://www.rowlandhs.org/ Aspire Public Schools: http://aspirepublicschools.org/
MODEL CHARTER SCHOOLS Compass Charter School, Brooklyn, NY Community Roots Charter School, Brooklyn, NY Gabriella Charter School: http://www.gabriellacharterschool.org/ High Tech Los Angeles: http://www.ht-la.org/
GET INFORMED MODEL PRIVATE SCHOOLS The Miquon School, Miquon, PA Bank Street School for Children, NY, NY MUSE: http://museschool.org/ Acton Academy Venice Beach: http://actonvenice.org/
RESOURCES FOR HOMESCHOOLING: http://www.homeschool.com/ http://www.home-school.com/
TAKE ACTION
1
1-3
MINUTES
ONE MINUTE ACTION
USE YOUR SOCIAL NETWORKS TO GET INVOLVED: CONNECT WITH GROUPS WORKING TOWARDS POSITIVE EDUCATION CHANGE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR INSTAGRAM Institute for Democratic Education in America (IDEA) Urban Youth Collaborative New York Collective of Radical Educators
3
THREE MINUTE ACTION
DONATE TO A GROUP WORKING TOWARDS EDUCATION EQUITY Urban Youth Collaborative IDEA
TAKE ACTION
5
5-8
MINUTES
FIVE MINUTE ACTION
JOIN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE SCHOOL-TO-PRISON PIPELINE, COLLEGE ACCESS AND READINESS, AND/OR SUPPORTING STRUGGLING SCHOOLS UYC – STPP Campaign UYC – College Access and Readiness Campaign UYC – Supporting Struggling Schools Campaign
8
EIGHT MINUTE ACTION
SHARE YOUR STORY WITH OTHERS Read and share the National Student Bill of Rights for All Youth and SHARE on your social networks Fill out a survey about what is going on at your (or your child’s) school IDEA School Assessment Survey Document outcomes and changes you see happening in your school IDEA Outcome Journal Share your story of Education (In)justice: Partnership for Education Justice
TAKE ACTION
10
10-15 MINUTES
TEN MINUTE ACTION
TALK TO PEOPLE ABOUT WHAT ISSUES YOU CARE ABOUT IN EDUCATION
15
For example, start a conversation about achievement gap vs. opportunity gap using OTLC talking points: TEN MINUTE ACTION
JOIN OR START A #OURSCHOOLS CAMPAIGN MODELED OFF OF THIS ONE IN NYC. Make a statement about your vision for schools and post widely.
TAKE ACTION
2
2-8
HOURS
2 HOUR ACTION
HELP A YOUNG PERSON WITH THEIR HOMEWORK AND EXTEND LEARNING BEYOND THE SCHOOL DAY One parent interviewed helps his daughter complete her homework and then works on extra, self-selected homework that includes opportunities to be creative and in charge of the project.
3
THREE HOUR ACTION
ENGAGE WITH A YOUNG PERSON ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE IN SCHOOL Advocate for a young person in their school – many young people say they experience some kind of unfairness, neglect, or discrimination on a regular basis. Go with your child or a young person you mentor to meet with their teacher, principal, and/or guidance counselor. Many schools say their biggest lack is parent involvement.
HALF DAY HALF DAY ACTION
CREATE
Create a short video about an education issue you would like to spread the word about. See a great example in this video on Equal Right, Equal Opportunity: Inclusive Education for Children with Disabilities from Global Campaign for Education.
TAKE ACTION
30-60
30 45
MINUTES
THIRTY MINUTE ACTION
VOTE! IN CITY, STATE, AND NATIONAL ELECTIONS From city council to president, our elected officials make important decisions affecting schools and education. You can register and find out more information here: FORTY-FIVE MINUTE ACTION
WRITE
Write a Letter to the Editor or an open letter to your mayor, school chancellor, or local elected official outlining changes would like to see in your schools. Get others to sign on. See an example here for New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Schools Chancellor Carmen Fariña from NYCoRE.
60
SIXTY MINUTE ACTION
FIGHT FOR CREATIVITY IN SCHOOLS. Take a survey: Does your school really value the arts?
“Instead of just fighting for the arts, you need to be fighting for the trouble-makers, game changers. The teachers that refuse to give into the standards. You need to fight for unstandardization or the arts will never have a chance of thriving in the school system.” • Read and share these 11 facts about art education • Stage a Music Walk out in support of music education in schools • Create and share art to demand funding for school art programs
TAKE ACTION
ON
GOING
ONGOING ONGOING ACTION
MAKE EDUCATIONAL CHANGE A REGULAR PART OF YOUR LIFE Develop a formal mentoring program Become a big brother/big sister Become a mentor with President Obama’s “My Brother’s Keeper Program” Become an organizer with IDEA - join a national team Young People Parents and Families Start your own school through Acton Academy’s tool kit: http://launchactonacademy.com/
There are a lot of different campaigns and ways to get involved in school reform and school disruption. The bottom line, however, is that something needs to change! Our future depends on it. Will YOU be a part of that change? Will you take a stand and DO something? Whether you are a young person yourself, a parent of a child in school, or just a person who cares about the world you live in, there are ways to take part, big and small. Make the choice now; the movement needs you.
PRODUCED BY:
WWW.CINECAUSE.COM
SOCIAL ACTION TOOLKIT TEAM:
JLOVE CALDERĂ“N, JANA LYNNE UMIPIG, CLARA WALOFF
SPECIAL THANKS: AMANDA HORVATH AND HER FILM Disruptive Education DESIGNED BY:
KAILEY STRACHAN KAILEYSTRACHAN.COM
EDUCATION
SO C IA L A C T I O N T O O LKI T FROM INSPIRATION TO ACTION SOCIAL ACTION TOOKITS PRODUCED WITH PURPOSE