Welcome to American Public School

This week we are exploring the history of American public schools and current controversies around public education in  this country. You can check out today's video here. I asked you to focus on the agendas and intentions of those providing or advocating public education as we have for the other education systems we have looked at this semester. Consider the importance of education for a democratic citizenry for example. 

Your assignment, due before class on Thursday, is to find a strong on-line article on a current controversy of public education from the list below, or one you come up with, and write a précis (short summary) of the article. Please bring a hard copy of the article and your summary to class on Thursday.

• Common Core
• Standardization Conspiracies
• Bussing/Segregation
• Charter Schools (which ones work?)
• Bilingual Education
• Home Schooling
• Vouchers
• Religion/Prayer in Schools/Creation-Evolution, etc.
• Discipline/Violence/Security

Research II: Report Due Wednesday

Interesting discussion today in class--our research is coming together. If I wrote "not yet" on your bibliography, please revise it and bring the revised version to class on Tuesday. We still need to hear from Ciara and Sasha (my fault!) and Giovanni, Arynn, Cheyenne, Nola, Nancy, and Victor on their strategies for reducing stereotype threat.

Now that you have some solid sources and a good understanding of your topic, it's time to write it up in a short report (approximately 1000 words or 4 double-spaced pages). The assignment handout can be found on the Campus Portal page for our class (you'll need to log in). Your report is due on TurnItIn.com by 11:59 pm on Wednesday (details on the handout).

Running into difficulties? Do not wait to contact me at mfitzgerald@ndnu.edu!

In Tuesday's class, we will start to get our research conference strategy together. Remember that the Freshman Research Conference on Thursday from 3:30 to 5 pm is mandatory.

On Tuesday, we will also look at the Nazi education system. Please have a look at excerpts from the novel, All the Light We Cannot See, handout available on the campus portal.

Research: Annotated Bibliography Due Tuesday

Movie Tonight!

Stand and Deliver will be shown in the SJ Lounge at 6 pm.

Food and Drinks will be provided.

Extra Credit Opportunity

We are now moving into serious research mode. Our topic will be Stereotype Threat and How to Reduce It. The first thing to do is gain mastery of the scientific literature available on the subject.

To that end, everyone (including students not in class today) has been assigned to

• find and carefully read the sources listed for one of the 12 "Empirically Validated Strategies to Reduce Stereotype Threat"  (the full reference citations are on the back of the page that lists the strategies)
• if the list has fewer than three sources for your strategy, find additional, related sources, and 
• create an annotated bibliography according to the assignment distributed in class and available on the campus portal.

The strategies have been assigned as follows:

1. Remove Cues That Trigger Worries About Stereotypes (Vince & Adam)
2. Convey That Diversity is Valued (Giovanni)
3. Create a Critical Mass (Anthony & Ann)
4. Create Fair Tests, Present Them as Fair and as Serving a Learning Purpose(Ciara & Sacha)
5. Value Students’ Individuality (Kendall)
6. Improve Cross-Group Interactions (Kai Ying & Andrea)
7. Present and Recruit Positive Role Models from Diverse Groups (Ervin & Raul)
8. Help Students Manage Feelings of Stress and Threat (Klane & Annette)
9. Support Students’ Sense of Belonging (Nancy)
10. Convey High Standards and Assure Students of Their Ability to Meet These Standards (Victor)
11. Promote a Growth Mindset About Intelligence (John & Ryan)
12. Value-Affirmations to Reduce Stress and Threat (Arynn & Cheyenne)

If you run into difficulties or are unclear about the assignment, DO NOT WAIT until Tuesday's class to get help. We do not have time for anyone to get behind on this assignment.