Ch. 3 The American Common School & Ch. 4 American Secondary Education
Reading Response 3: Respond to the primary source on p. 108-114 – Horace Mann’s Annual Report. What do you think the public school policy should be regarding physical education, education and economics, political education, moral education, and religious education? Complete question #3 on p. 148 regarding the different types of secondary schools in your community.
Chapter 3 - The American Common School
Physical Education
I personally think that physical education should be more of a priority for school systems. Unfortunately, educators should be in the mindset that parents do not provide adequate information to their children. Of course, some parents are actively involved and provide beneficial background information. Other students may not have this advantage and need to know the benefits of physical education. Health & Wellness classes, Physical Education, Lifetime Fitness courses, and other essential whole embodiment classes help to nurture the student into a well-rounded individual.
In elementary school I remember learning key terms in regards to bones and muscles from a flexible 2 dimensional skeleton my gym teacher used. He would place the color coded skeleton on the floor and point to the various parts while explaining their function. Then we would do floor exercises that would work that particular muscle. Of course we would also have “free days” where we could play basketball, walk, run, engage in tag, etc. The point being that I learned a lot of interesting and useful facts and in regards to being healthy. This P.E. teacher taught his students the importance of maintaining a healthy and active lifestyle with diagrams about the food pyramid, the importance of drinking milk, and also knowing how our bodies work.
At my high school, every sophomore was required to take a Physical Fitness course and by the time you graduate you either have to had taken gym or participate in a sport. The Physical Fitness class included 3 days in the gym and 2 days in the classroom. The classroom work was somewhat mundane due to the instructor teaching out of the book most of the time. However, it was interesting to plan and calculate calories and also learn more about essential organs in more detail, such as the heart. Our first assignment was drawing a realistic diagram of the heart with all of it labeled.
Sexual education was also considered as part of this course but it basically consisted of a woman coming to speak about self-worth. Personal accounts were retold from example people and that was it. I think this may be one reason why pregnancy rates are so high in this country now. The general public is so worried about being “politically correct” that Sex Ed. is being deleted or stepped around in various school systems. I personally think that more emphasis should be placed on the importance of Physical Education in American education and how this relates to everyday life. Students should be aware of the importance of maintaining active and healthy lifestyles.
Education and Economics
I do not think that monetary differences should contribute to differences in education. As the book stated, “Education, then, beyond all other devices of human origin, is the great equalizer of the conditions of men,” (Gutek, 2013, p. 109). This being said, I also agree that economic standing should not reflect how you receive your education. Of course if you have the means to attend a private school their curricula will be different from a public school system. If your parents have the money for a private tutor you will probably perform better in the subject area, generally speaking. Public schools should be there to provide adequate life skills, proper teaching tactics, developmentally appropriate practices, and nutritional lunches to ALL students no matter of income. There should be no differences due to lack or plethora of financial status.
Political Education
This section of the Twelfth Annual Report seems to make good sense over the course of the passage. Some particular striking comments that stuck out to me are as follows:
“Surely, between these extremes, there must be a medium not difficult to be found. . . .But the teacher, in the course of his lessons or lectures on the fundamental law, arrives at a controverted text, he is either to read it without comment or remark;” (Gutek, 2013, p 111)
I remember when heated topics would arise in school and the teacher would say that the time to discuss that was over. I firmly believe that the political aspect of American History should be taught in school systems. This is where we live and this is how the government works. However, I also agree that teachers should keep their opinions private and stick to the facts in an engaging approach. I am in no way saying that you should gloss over important topics in a classroom; I am merely stating that the teacher should use discretion and take in the mentality and capacity of the child. They should also restrain from voicing their opinion in certain topics.
Moral Education
Moral education would be considered a topic in which the teacher would have to tread on shaky ground. I think we should stick to the basics: no lying, no profanity, taking responsibility, and showing respect to all individuals, etc.. The slippery slope effect could come from when teachers pose their own morals (or lack therefore) on the students or their parents. Examples would be life partner choices and other debatable topics.
Religious Education
“I here place the argument in favor of a religious education for the young upon the broadest and general grounds,” (Gutek, 2013, p. 112). The books statement resonates with my own opinion as well. I think that religion can and should be discussed in a broad sense but everyone should have the freedom of choice. Although being Baptist and raised in the Bible Belt, I have my own beliefs. However, I cannot bring these entirely into the school system and force them upon students. I think this is why private schools are so abundant, because they have the free reign to teach religious components within their curriculum. However, in a public school setting there is still the separation of church and state. I also do not think religious aspects should be banned just because of differences. They can just be respected individually but since this county was formed on religious framework I personally stand behind The Pledge of Allegiance and other such traditional methods.
Chapter 4 - American Secondary Education
Question #3 on page 148
Research the types of secondary schools in your community. What types did you find?
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| http://www2.york.k12.tn.us/index.html |
Y.A.I - The only main secondary school in my community is the high school I attended. Alvin C. York Agricultural Institute (more commonly known as Y.A.I or York) is located in Jamestown, Tennessee. This is a public high school with an attendance rate of around 600 students. Our campus is around 400 acres and is supposedly the largest high school campus in the world. However, the main building is not that large; it is all one level and has different structures for subjects (main building includes lunchroom, office, gym, general classrooms, science building for science classes, English building for Language arts, vocational building for trade classes, JROTC building, math villas, etc.)
What makes it so large is the vast woodland farming area that surrounds it. This was given to Sergeant Alvin C. York after he returned home from World War I. This is the only state funded public high school in the United States. Sergeant Alvin C. York returned from the military and wanted to create this school so the people of Fentress County could obtain a higher education. This school is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools and offers students 9th - 12th grade a high school education. Y.A.I also offers dual credit enrollment through Roane State Community College in which a student can receive up to 30+ hours of college credit before graduating high school. They offer sports, after school academics, and other extracurricular activities. Since this school is located in a rural region there are limitations to technological advancements.
F.C.A - There is another secondary school located in Jamestown, Faith Christian Academy. This school is branched with Faith Baptist Tabernacle and occupies grades Pre-K – high school. The attendance rate is exceptionally low. This is a private school in which students have to pay tuition to attend. The enrollment for a senior high school class was 3 a few years ago. Two grade levels at a time are paired together to help account for the low attendance rates. This school is campus is connected to Faith Baptist Tabernacle’s church sanctuary and offers a small, religious, isolated setting for students. Bob Jones University curricula is what this school employs as their primary teaching method.
* Although all schools are different I am glad we live in a country where it is not only recommended, but required to attend school. I could not imagine being in an area where girls are reprimanded for attending school or students are not required to go. After completing this assignment I am joyous that this country has developed an overall working concept of school systems. I also see how public schools and private schools differ in academic curriculum and also after school activities.
Reference:
Gutek, G. L. (2013). An Historical Introduction to American Education. 3rd ed. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc.
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