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Contemporary Aims in Contemporary Society & the Professionalization Movement

Read and watch the lecture resources & materials below early in the week to help you respond to the discussion questions and to complete your assignment(s).
Read
• Tozer, S., Senese, G., & Violas, P. (2021). School and society: Historical and contemporary perspectives (8th ed.). McGraw Hill.
o Chapters 8-9
• Ravitch (2020). Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools.
o Chapters 13-16
Watch
• Public schools for sale?
Moyers & Company. (2014, April 15). Public schools for sale? [Video]. YouTube.Public Schools for SaleLinks to an external site.
• What the 1% don’t want you to know
Moyers & Company. (2014, April 18). What the 1% don’t want you to know [Video]. YouTube.What the 1% Don’t Want You to KnowLinks to an external site.

Assignment 6
Reform & Revolt

Slaying Goliath: The Passionate Resistance to Privatization and the Fight to Save America’s Public Schools, by Diana Ravitch (2020) is a revolutionary text that exposes corporations’ attempts to eliminate public education and replace it with privatized schools. After reading the assigned chapters from the Ravitch text, all students should respond to each of the following questions with substantial responses

Chapter Thirteen: The Miracles That Weren’t: New Orleans and Florida
o According to Ravitch, what conditions lead to the miracle of the turnaround of the New Orleans school district after the Katrina hurricane disaster?
o The New Orleans scenario was played out subsequently in Florida and dubbed the “Florida Miracle” under Jeb Bush who spent billions of dollars on vouchers for private and religious schools and in support of charter schools. Was the Florida Miracle real or was it an illusion according to Ravitch?
Chapter Fourteen: Common Core and a Gaggle of Other Failed Reforms
o According to Ravitch, were the Common Core Standards (CCSS) developed by teachers and researchers?
o What does Ravitch say about the use of student test scores for teacher evaluations?
o What does Ravitch have to say about the practice of parent trigger laws?
o According to Ravitch, what are the problems associated with value-added assessments that were developed by Sanders?
o According to Ravitch, what are the factors that have the most influence on students’ standardized test scores?
Chapter Fifteen: The Teachers Revolt
o According to Ravitch, what are some of the factors that lead teachers to revolt in 2018?
Chapter Sixteen: Goliath Stumbles
o According to Ravitch, what is the education reform?
o According to Ravitch, has the education reform produced better education?

Sample Answer

hapter Thirteen: The Miracles That Weren’t: New Orleans and Florida

According to Ravitch, what conditions lead to the miracle of the turnaround of the New Orleans school district after the Katrina hurricane disaster?
- Look for sections discussing the post-Katrina reforms in New Orleans. Ravitch is often critical of how this narrative was framed. She likely highlights that the “miracle” was not due to the conditions commonly touted by reformers (e.g., all-charter system, elimination of unions) but rather due to other, less-discussed factors or that the “miracle” itself was overstated. Pay attention to her arguments about the displacement of students, the selective re-enrollment, and the overall context of the reforms.
The New Orleans scenario was played out subsequently in Florida and dubbed the “Florida Miracle” under Jeb Bush who spent billions of dollars on vouchers for private and religious schools and in support of charter schools. Was the Florida Miracle real or was it an illusion according to Ravitch?
- Search for Ravitch’s analysis of the “Florida Miracle.” She is generally skeptical of such claims when they are attributed solely to privatization or specific reform efforts like vouchers and charter schools. She likely argues it was an illusion by pointing to issues like:
  - How testing data was interpreted or manipulated.
  - The actual demographics of students served.
  - The impact on vulnerable student populations.
  - The real factors contributing to any genuine improvements, if any.
  - The significant financial cost of these policies versus their actual educational benefit.

2. Chapter Fourteen: Common Core and a Gaggle of Other Failed Reforms

According to Ravitch, were the Common Core Standards (CCSS) developed by teachers and researchers?
- Look for the section where Ravitch discusses the origins and development of the Common Core State Standards. She is often critical of the process, particularly regarding the involvement of actual educators and subject matter experts versus foundations and non-educator organizations.

Full Answer Section

What does Ravitch say about the use of student test scores for teacher evaluations?
- Find the passages discussing high-stakes testing and its application to teacher evaluations. Ravitch consistently argues against using standardized test scores as a primary measure for evaluating teachers, citing issues with reliability, validity, and the impact on curriculum and instruction.
What does Ravitch have to say about the practice of parent trigger laws?
- Search for her discussion on “parent trigger laws.” She likely addresses the implications of these laws for democratic control of public schools, the role of external organizations, and potential negative consequences for communities.
According to Ravitch, what are the problems associated with value-added assessments that were developed by Sanders?
- Locate the section on value-added models (VAMs) and likely the mention of William Sanders, a key figure in their development. Ravitch is a strong critic of VAMs, and she will detail their statistical flaws, their inability to accurately isolate a teacher’s impact, and the negative consequences of their use.
According to Ravitch, what are the factors that have the most influence on students’ standardized test scores?
- Ravitch frequently emphasizes the non-school factors that significantly impact student achievement, especially on standardized tests. Look for her arguments about the influence of:
  - Socioeconomic status (poverty).
  - Parental education and support.
  - Student health and nutrition.
  - Access to early childhood education.
  - Out-of-school learning opportunities.
  - The limitations of standardized tests themselves.

3. Chapter Fifteen: The Teachers Revolt

This chapter likely details the growing resistance from educators against the very reforms discussed in previous chapters (privatization, high-stakes testing, de-professionalization). Look for discussions on:
- Reasons for teacher discontent.
- Specific examples of teacher protests, strikes, or advocacy efforts.
- The role of teacher unions in this resistance.
- The arguments teachers make against corporate-driven education reform.
- How teachers are advocating for a different vision of public education.

By carefully reading these chapters with these specific questions in m

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