http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Programme_for_International_Student_Assessment
This Wikipedia article is about a system and committee that only job is to send assessments to different fifteen year old students in different countries rating the countries education system. One really good quote from the article is at the end of the second paragraph in the section Framework "PISA claims to measure education's application to real-life problems and life-long learning (workforce knowledge)." This shows the importance of real-life problem solving skills in the consensus teaching method. also in the results section there is a list of ranks in the different sections over different years. Whats interesting is that Finland is at the top of list in every section. This page can be use to establish and defend the argument that school is just a major sorting/rating system. the teacher's rate the students, then the administrators rate and sort the classes, the local government then rates the schools, the the districts are sorted until eventually you reach a point where the countries as a whole are rated and sorted with each other. the entire education system is used as a mass rating and sorting of students, teachers, and nations.
"Realschule." Wikipedia. 8 February 2010. Web.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Realschule
The German School system primarily the realschule system puts a strong emphasis on apprenticeship and working during school. At a younger age than in other countries students are given incentive's toward certain careers. there is a bigger scientific emphasis than humanities, the school system plays a big part in preparing students for their prospective careers. This information is probably good for the argument of school as a sorting machine. This can used to say that school sorts people by their education and from their influences the rest of their lives. Of course nothing is forced, no one is saying the student has to go into a job but it significantly influences their lives.
"America's Best High Schools: Gold Medal List." US News and World Report 09 dec. 2009: n. pag. Web. 23 Feb 2010.
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2009/12/09/americas-best-high-schools-gold-medal-list.html?PageNr=1
This link is to a article from US news and world report that lists all of the best high schools in the US it has a pretty long list of top high schools it includes Stuyvesant hs and American studies at Lehman along with some other top schools. What i think is extremely interesting in the article is the title "America's Best High Schools: Gold Medal List" to me the gold medal list seems pretty pretentious and narcissistic. I can imagine the principles of these schools using this list to either get more money from local, state, federal governments or trying to attract smarter students. another part of the article that is interesting but not surprising is that College Readiness is ranked and listed. This article can most likely be used in the argument that everything is ranked, and systematically put in qualitative order. This article extends the argument that education is a sorting mechanism from the idea that it sorts students to the idea that it sorts both students and teachers. It also can be used for the argument that school like so many aspects of life is epical the college readiness section shows how we look at school as just a steping stone to the college, work/career and eventually retirement.
"Deschooling." Wikipedia. 7 November 2009 . Web.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deschooling
this page is on the theory of getting an education without school, its the argument that most people don't really learn what they should or anything at all its better to learn individually at ones own pace. In that system they will learn at their own ability and will learn what is necessary for their own lives. One quote from the article that i don't particularly agree with but is nevertheless interesting is "Another common criticism is that institutionalized schooling is used as a tool for the engineering of an ignoant, conformist working class through constant schedules and prearranged time blocks and one-size-fits-all teaching methods." This is basically saying that much of institutionalized school is used to create drone citizens that only follow what they are told. This article would be best utilized when talking about the different forms of education. Which is better the deschooling or the institutionalized schooling? Is homeschooling closer related to deschooling to regular school?
Rose, Mike. "Race to the Top of What? Education Is About More Than Jobs." TruthDig (Feb 18, 2010): n. pag. Web. 23 Feb 2010.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/race_to_the_top_of_what_education_is_about_more_than_jobs_20100218/
this link is to an article on simply why school is so important. What exactly is it about school that shapes no only us but our countries economic prosperity as well, but also why we must not think of school as strictly economic. The article also mentions the authors view on what the correct curriculum should be (end of paragraph 5). One of the best quotes in the article is "Students enjoy the protected social setting and the connections they establish with adults. Many people, young and not so young, discover a passion. Our worlds get bigger. School is one of the primary institutions where we define who we are." this quote encompasses what school does for the student, it teaches them skills both social and academic, allows them to develop passions and allows the world to evolve. This article can be used for a lot of arguments. It is littered with quotes on what school does for the average person, how it should be taught, and why school is so important. In terms of the argument for school as sorting machine the article somewhat mentions how school vocation schools and push students into directions for careers and jobs, helping decide where they will end up.
this is an article from the New York Times on a school district in North Carolina that is going back and forth deciding whether or not to bus children around to different schools in attempt to achieve economic diversity. The article mentioned how in a recent election for education board member republicans won the open seats as a result of frustrated parents seeing their children going to bad schools. an interesting quote/stat in the article that defends school busing is "
An article like this can be used to defend the argument that school is an institution that solely prepares students for the rest of their lives. the idea of school busing apparently not only creates good schools that are open to all economic classes but it also teaches students how to prepare for a diverse world.
Ruiz, Rebecca. "What if High School Ended After 11th (or Even 10th) Grade?." New York Times 01 mar 2010: n. pag. Web. 2 Mar 2010..
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/grade11/?scp=5&sq=school&st=cse
this is another interesting new york times article on a system of education where mandatory education ended a few years earlier. it is a plan that is gaining some momentum in a few states particularly Utah to shorten high-school, there are some plans to eradicate 12th grade completely, and even a plan where leaving school early is incentizied with financial grants. I think some of the change stems from the bad economy, for instance The plan from a state senator from Utah which will cut senior year completely can save the state roughly 102 million dollars, and if the system without 12th grade teaches the same things at 102 million dollars less its fiscally sensible, that money can go to a lot of things to improve the state. This article falls under the category of how you learn and how school prepares you for college and or life. This is a "new" education system that emphasis's moving on to the next stage of life. an interesting part is the question that if 12th grade is removed will all the social parts of it be transferred down to 11 or 10. the change it eliminated some grades changes the education playbook completely, and in someways helps the students think more clearly on what they want to do in life, proving that school is often used as a sorting machine that just sets students on an epic like path.
Ruiz, Rebecca. "What if High School Ended After 11th (or Even 10th) Grade?." New York Times 01 mar 2010: n. pag. Web. 2 Mar 2010.
http://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/01/grade11/?scp=5&sq=school&st=cse
this is another interesting new york times article on a system of education where mandatory education ended a few years earlier. it is a plan that is gaining some momentum in a few states particularly Utah to shorten high-school, there are some plans to eradicate 12th grade completely, and even a plan where leaving school early is incentizied with financial grants. I think some of the change stems from the bad economy, for instance The plan from a state senator from Utah which will cut senior year completely can save the state roughly 102 million dollars, and if the system without 12th grade teaches the same things at 102 million dollars less its fiscally sensible, that money can go to a lot of things to improve the state. This article falls under the category of how you learn and how school prepares you for college and or life. This is a "new" education system that emphasis's moving on to the next stage of life. an interesting part is the question that if 12th grade is removed will all the social parts of it be transferred down to 11 or 10. the change it eliminated some grades changes the education playbook completely, and in someways helps the students think more clearly on what they want to do in life, proving that school is often used as a sorting machine that just sets students on an epic like path.
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