Marcotte,Kiah+L

15 September 2014 Expertise Statement

 When this expertise statement was assigned in class, I had absolutely no idea what to write. I am not particularly an expert in anything, or at least anything super impressive or unique. After thinking about what to write about for a long time, I decided that one thing I would consider myself good at is working with younger children. I mean, some people cannot stand working with little ones, so I mean, that must count as something, right? I have always been around other kids. Obviously from going to school; however, I went to a small private school from pre-school until eighth grade, so I was always exposed to the younger children. On top of that, I always arrived at school an hour before a majority of the other children and stayed after school for three more hours at the school daycare. Once I started middle school, I would help the teachers with the younger children with little things such as opening snacks, tying shoes, wiping runny noses, and making trips back and forth to the bathroom, to even helping out with doing homework. I know some people do not have the patience for things like that, but I love it! Although I graduated from that school four years ago, I still visit and volunteer! I absolutely love working with little kids. It is something that I am truly passionate about, and I hope that it will continue to grow and open my mind up for new experiences and hopefully lead me into a career in the near future that I can have!

22 September 2014 High School Experience

The grade level that I have chosen for my context statement is high school. From my own personal experiences, at first I truly didn’t like high school. I went to a small private Catholic school with only 17 students in my 8th grade class filled with people I had become best friends with for 10 years. When I started high school, all my friends went off to private high schools, while I switched to public school. It was definitely a complete 360 going from a small private school. It was shocking to see that kids didn't care about their schoolwork, study for tests, pay attention to the teacher, or be respectful to teachers or other students. I was a student who always genuinely liked school, but my freshman year was miserable and I started to hate it. I needed a change. Many of my teachers noticed how bored I was with the work and suggested to me that I talk to my guidance counselor and ask to move into honors classes. I didn’t know that these types of classes even existed because at my old school, there was only one class that went at one pace. Long story short, over time I went from being in "regular" classes to honors classes, to AP classes. Although it did put me behind others in my grade because of my freshman year, I'm glad that I went through that experience because it made me become friends with everyone. I didn't just limit myself to one particular group of kids. Not only did it turn out to be a good experience because I met and made a lot of friends, but I met many teachers who really cared about me and showed me the difference between a teacher and a passionate teacher-one that goes the extra mile.

Luckily for me my school did not have any of the problems that Jonathan Kozol mentions in his book, //Savage Inequalities//. My school was mostly white, with very few minorities, but there was never a problem with discrimination against races. Also, there was a leak or two in the roof, the bathrooms smelt like cigarettes, teachers always complaining about having paper run out in the copy room, but nothing compared to the horrific conditions in the schools of //Savage// //Inequities//.

Of all the horrible situations that were mentioned in //Savage Inequalities//, I believe that the worst thing is that the students do not have the motivation to succeeded and they already have the mindset that everything is over for them. Through my four years at my high school I saw at least four girls who were pregnant. I didn't know the situation so who knows if it can relate to the pregnant girls in //Savage Inequalities//, but they continued to work hard and even graduate. At least from my perspective, the teachers at my high school were there for the students, and to me, that’s the most important thing that makes a good school.

29 September 2014 Reflection on Foundations of American Education Chapters 2 & 3

After reading the two chapters, I found the third chapter a lot more interesting because the second chapter reminded me of my AP high school European History class. In the third chapter some things that stood out to me were things like special education, home schooling, the “changing aims in education”, and the “preparation of teachers” simply because I could somehow relate to them.

I found it interesting that public schools didn’t provide education for those who had difficulties. I have a few friends that are going to college to major in special education so I found that when they talked about how there is a growth in special education programs. Home schooling was another thing that stood out to me because I actually met a girl here at URI who was home schooled throughout high school and I found it interesting to read the description of a person who is homeschooled in the book and compare and contrast to the girl I met.

The sections of “changing aims in education” and “preparation of teachers” included many things that I did not know of before. For example, I had never heard of the Committee of Ten before but clearly that is a very important part to the foundations of today’s education because it became a major influence in shaping today’s secondary education. Also, I had never heard of the Seven Cardinal Principles, and that is also another concept that applies to today’s education because today’s education does incorporate many, if all of those principles. What I found most interesting that during colonial America, people were advertised and sold as teachers.

The topic of the chapter that I found the most relevant to today’s educational contexts is the technology in education. From the beginnings of time with caveman using a stick or finger to draw a symbol of something in the dirt, to today’s use of eBooks, online homework assignments and classes, etc. it is crazy to even try and imagine what education will be like within the next 20 years!

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">6 October 2014 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Reflection of Foundations of American Education Chapter 4

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">After reading chapter four, I found the philosophies of idealism, pragmatism, realism, and existentialism very interesting. I remember learning about many of the philosophers named throughout the chapter during my European History class my junior year in high school. It was interesting to look back at those names and remember some things from when I learned about them in high school and how they connected to education. I like the idea of pragmatism because it is more real world friendly. I feel that if I was a teacher I would have more of a pragmatic view because I think that students should learn how to solve problems like in the "real world" and work with people. However, I must admit that I had never heard of existentialism before. I feel that if I was a teacher I would also have existentialism views as well because I like the idea that students should become what they themselves want to become without the influence of other people including the teachers themselves. I honestly didn't really care for the topic in the chapter where they talked about the different thoughts of different cultures. Although they briefly talked about how in Eastern ways, the student is changed through the teacher, and in Native North American ways, nature is most important, I found it very boring and I wish that it went into more detail of the different teaching techniques. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Overall I found the chapter interesting, but I wish it talked more about education techniques rather than the history.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">20 October 2014 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Two Philosophers/Schools of Thought That Appeal to Me

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">After reading chapter five, I found that behaviorism and constructivism appeal to me. I agree with psychologist and philosopher, B.F. Skinner, in the way that he believes that one's behavior is determined by environment, not heredity-- sort of like the debate of nature versus nurture. I like the idea that with a behaviorist curriculum, teachers are encouraged to reward their students with things like praise, privileges, and good grades. I believe from personal experiences that students will work harder to do better with the motivation of a teacher, knowing at the end that there will be a reward. For example, I went to a private school when I was in elementary school and I remember that in fourth grade if we got an A on our quiz we got to pick from the "treasure box" and it was filled with little toys to free homework passes, to even a dress down day! When teachers give students negative comments, or punish the students with things such as lower grades or extra homework, more than likely the students will not cooperate with the teacher and will be more ignorant towards the situation and become even less motivated to do better. For example, I could tell that in high school with students who clearly had no motivation to do well in school would just slack, and if a teacher was to punish them, the person wouldn't listen, but even talk back to the teacher and make the situation even worse. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">The second school of thought that appealed to me was the philosophy of constructivism. It is an educational philosophy that emphasizes developing personal meaning through hands-on, activity-based teaching and learning. I found it appealing because I like the idea that it wants to have the students be free to infer and discover their own answers to questions rather than a teacher just reading from a textbook and lecturing. I like how it focuses on letting the student think on their own, rather than through a teacher. In real life situations, teachers won't be there to guide the student, and the student will have to think on their own. I like the type of teaching style that is used within this education philosophy because it is based on problem solving, which again as I said, I feel is important because in the real world the student will need to think on their own and not have someone to guide them. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Both of these education philosophies involve a respectful classroom environment that, if I was a teacher, I believe has to be a must. Although the other aspects of the classroom such as the learning focus, discipline approach, motivation, and teaching styles are slightly different, I believe that they are both similar in the way that they both are full of positive reinforcement for the students, but constructivism wants the student to use their own individualistic ideas and opinions and involve them in the classroom. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Personally, I think that a mixture between these two types of education philosophies would be perfect for if I became a teacher in the future. I would want a respectful environment for everyone including both teachers and students, positive reinforcements, along with a teaching style that uses a textbook and allows the teacher to teach, but somewhat like almost to a certain point and then allows the student to use their own ideas and opinions to develop individual understandings that will help them in the future in real life situations.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">3 November 2014 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">Diversity in Educational Experience

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">I am Chinese and was adopted and raised by a white family, so all my life I was brought up around white people. I do not take that as a bad thing at all, but to be honest it makes me more oblivious to being a "minority" in a group. I really don't consider myself Asian other than if I'm talking about my physical traits. In elementary school, I went to a small private school and there was one other Asian girl in my class, and we were never singled out or anything like that. However, I found that once I moved on into high school kids began to bring up the issue of race up and tease me. Obviously it did bother me, but more so annoying rather than hurtful because the comments they would make would not apply to me because I wasn't brought up in an Asian household. Throughout Pre-k all the way until 12th grade I believe that I have always been a minority, but I was never treated poorly. Here at URI, it is still definitely a majority of white, but there's more opportunities to meet people from all different places, compared to elementary and high school.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',serif; font-size: 12pt;">17 November 2013 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Chapter 10 Quiz - Kiah, Maddy, and Briana <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Title IX** - portion of the US Education Amendments of 1972 that states that no person in the US, on the basis of sex should be excluded from participation in, or denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program. (pg 271) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because there should be no discrimination against anyone to receive education. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">If this didn't exist then women would not be able to receive an education. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**14th Amendment -** states that no state shall make or enforce any law that which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the US. (pg 261) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The importance of this is that no person should be deprived of life, liberty, or property. No one should be denied equal protection of the law. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Obviously we support this law because it gives everyone equal opportunity as a citizen. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**De facto segregation** - the segregation of students resulting from circumstances such as housing patterns rather than law or school policy. (pg 268) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">The importance of this is that segregation and desegregation are combined to make mixed success increasing the concern of re-segregation of schools based on where people live. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can relate to this because there are separate bathrooms for men and women. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Education for All Handicapped Children Act** - all public schools accepting federal funds to provide equal access to public education and one free meal a day for children with mental or physical disabilities. (pg 272) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because someone with a disability shouldn't be treated different because they have that disability. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">We can relate because in high school there was a child with mental disabilities and we feel that they should be treated the same as everyone else. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Plessy v Ferguson** - decision upholding the constitutionality of state laws requiring racial segregation public facilities - "separate but equal" (pg 269) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because it is political and not social equality-- shouldn't depend on who you are but the part you're doing. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">We believe this was good because we believe everyone should be treated equally. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Collective bargaining** - the negotiation between teachers in a group with people who hired them. (pg 274) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important for equality among teachers. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It relates to us because for those who want to become teachers, we will want our voices to be heard. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Probationary period** - the required time; typically one to three years, where a beginning teacher must demonstrate satisfactory performance as a basis for seeking tenure (pg 275) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> It's important because if you're a shitty teacher, you wont be granted tenure so you wont have them in the school system. this is important to us because no one wants to be stuck with a bad teacher multiple years in a row so if you do receive tenure, you're granted a position in the school. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Interpretive agents of legal control** - Decisions of state courts, district and US supreme courts. (pg 260) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is important because you need legal provisions for education in order for order to take place. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">Its important/relates to us because what they pass/do trickles and affects what we do and what happens in schools. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Tenth Amendment** - Grants responsibility for education to each state (pg 261) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's important because education is not nationalized so its different between each state but it is required and that's why the significance is that it makes sure its for everyone. It is important/ relates to us because our culture and education is intertwined along with other states but we all differ. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Establishment Clause** - prohibits the government from making any law respecting an establishment of religion. (pg 261) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This is important because your faith shouldn't have anything to do with the education you're being provided. Your faith is what you were brought up with, you didn't choose it. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It can be related to us because Kiah went to a catholic school where there was a specific class that preached that religion. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Child Benefit Theory** -Determines whether services provided to non public school students benefit children and not a particular school or religion. (pg 264) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;"> This is important because they want to make sure the benefits go to the students rather than the school as a whole. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It affects us because we were all given equal benefit within one school without being bias or leaving anyone out. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Intelligent Design** - Belief that works against evolution; that god made the world in seven days. (pg 267) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is important because people believe different theories and this is one of them that is more popular. Although this is different within different states because people don't believe in it. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This relates to us because we all have different theories about how the world came about but we can't discuss freely because people get upset. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Race-Conscious Assignment** -The strategy of taking race into account for placement of students without making it primary or single consideration (pg 270) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is important because this is not morally correct in this time of day. Race and cultures of people doesn't make that a primary problem when considering different students. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This affects us because we go to school with children of different race and cultures and so we want to see equality; we don't want people to be judged on things they didn't choose. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Tenure laws** - laws are intended to provide security for teachers and their position and to prevent the removal of capable teachers by capricious action or political motive (pg 275) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is important so good teachers cant get fired due to cut backs or anything else. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">This relates to us because teachers that actually have done a good job in the passed shouldn't get cut over teachers that are doing a bad job. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**FERPA** - Schools and teachers must maintain confidentiality of student records and parents are able to review and challenge the records for their children. (pg 279) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because the parent's have that right to know their child's record. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It's important because we want to be able to view our children's records and we don't want them to be shared with anyone else. That's also how it affects us. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Tort** - a wrongful act or infringement of a right leading to civil legal liability (pg 280) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because teachers accused of assault an battery are given considerable leeway and allows teachers to defend students. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important to us because if there is a fight in school it allows teachers to defend students. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Steward B McKinney Homeless Assistance Act -** each state educational agency shall assure that child of a homeless individual and each homeless youth have access to a free, appropriate education (pg 285) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important because no matter what your financial status is, you should be able to have the right for an education. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">It is important to us because we also believe that this is true and do not think that any person should be treated any less.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">**Where is education mentioned in the constitution?** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 12pt;">- 1st, 10th, and 14th amendment.