The Mission of Schools, Essay Example

Rousseau was concerned with individual freedom and liberty – the individual, and Plato supported collective responsibility to the state – the citizen. Explain how John Goodlad reconciled these two positions in his 4 major themes that relate to the mission of schools. Do you agree? Would you add to his themes or delete any in light of schooling today?  In light of NCLB, are these themes current today?

In determining his four major themes that relate to the mission of schools, Goodlad noted that it would be essential to enculturate the young into a social and political democracy and to introduce them to the reasoning that is necessary for them to become intelligent (Goodlad, 1991). Ultimately, Goodlad wishes for students to be free to the extent to which they are able to give back to society. I agree because this incorporates philosophy and education in a manner that sets reasonable goals for students and provides an observable way to determine success. These four major themes are still relevant in the modern world. Furthermore, while they have been rephrased to fit into the context of NCLB, they still exist today, as we continue to instill in our students the ability to think and learn.

What was Goodlad’s renewal agenda? What is your reaction to his agenda?

Goodlad’s renewal agenda primarily revolved around teacher training. I agree with his desire to reshape the ways that teachers are trained because ultimately, the teachers have the most influence over the learning that does or does not occur in the classroom. Teachers must be provided with tools to help a broad range of students, and this is still relevant in the era of NCLB. My reaction to this plan is that it will be successful in most schools, but not in all. While Goodlad’s plan is somewhat flexible, it is this flexibility that has the potential for it to fail due to the many interpretations that administrators can have.

John Goodlad states that he is not involved in setting policies but he knows that state leaders in education must be. Describe how state education leaders can be successful in working with legislators.

It is important for educators to work with legislators by demonstrating data that describes policies that have worked on the institutional level as evidence for what should be implemented on a broader scale. Furthermore, it is essential for educators to develop relationships with their legislators so that they remain involved in a discussion that will promote legislation that will help achieve progress for all students.

How did Goodlad both agree and disagree with the Education Commission of the States?

While Goodlad agreed that it would be necessary for students to be held to more rigorous standards, he believed that a major starting point was through professional development of teachers rather than the establishment of policies (Sirotnik&Soder, 1999). While Goodlad believed that education was not a one size fits all solution, the Education Commission attempted to treat it as such. Therefore, Goodlad believed that learning needed to be more personalized to fit the learning needs of all students, even though he believed that it was necessary to have a broad plan in place to facilitate this learning.

References

Goodlad JI. (1991). Why We Need a Complete Redesign of Teacher Education. Retrieved from http://www.ascd.org/ASCD/pdf/journals/ed_lead/el_199111_goodlad.pdf

Sirotnik KA, Soder R. (1999). The Beat of a Different Drummer: Essays on Educational Renewal in Honor of John I. Goodlad. Peter Lang International Academic Publishers.