10. Proposals For School Reform
Description:
Change is a constant feature in the education world. Among those changes are the calling for school reform due to the many complex problems of school. Because problems of the school are so complexed, some proposals for school reform fall under systemic reform which is the belief that multiple problems must be attacked at once such as administrative arrangement, nature of instructional material etc and the focus should be on educational output goals not input. School choice is a big part of the proposals for school reform. Traditionally, most students attend school based on their home address. But supporters of school choice say that guardians and students should be allowed to chose which schools they go to. Supporters say when that scheme is in place, parents and guardians will send their children to "good" schools that will flourish and the "poor" schools that the students will not be sent to will lose state funding and students and as a result will have to improve or cease to exist. Critics of school choice say that setting a higher standard of schools at the same time support money dries up makes little sense and that the better and brighter and newer teachers will accept jobs at the "good" schools making the students at the "poor" schools not to be served by the teachers they are in need of most (Armstrong, Henson & Savage, 2009).
Illustration: Some different illustrations encouraging school reform and a specific idea of school reform, which is school choice.
Practical Example:
A example of school reform proposals would be the number of different charter and magnet schools available for students. In fall 2013, Michigan opened 32 new charter schools for their students in addition to the 232 charter schools already available in that state because they had a need from their community for more charter schools. LAUSD has charter and magnet schools available for their students to try and get into, but an article in Oct 2012 stated that out of the 173 magnet schools in LAUSD, 12 of them were under-enrolled. School reform proposals are put in place because educators and parents want to see their children prepared to the best of the school's ability and so they ask for better teacher's, schools and test scores and when they succeed, as in the case of Michigan's public schools, they ask for more. Yet when certain magnet school,s like the twelve in LAUSD, underperformed compared to their counterparts, no one wants to send their children there. So school reform, like any other education tool, has its good sides and bad sides and most teachers and educators are aware of that when talking and dealing with school reform.
Integral Components:
Integral concepts of school reform is school choice, more specifically holding schools and educators to certain standards and accountability and giving parents and guardians the option to send their children to schools that best suit them. There are several options to school choice which include vouches, charter schools, open enrollment and magnet schools (Armstrong, Henson & Savage, 2009). Voucher plans is tax money parents and guardians receive that they can use to pay for each of their children at a school of their choice. Once the parent or guardian choose the school, the money goes to that school for their general funds and good schools are rewarded with lots of vouches (i.e. money) for doing well and attracting students. Charter schools are another example of school choice in which they are public schools that are run by a board of directors with money from the community and outside sources and thus are free from many of the regulations tied to traditional public schools. Open-enrollment plans are letting parents or guardians choose what school their children attend. They are different from voucher plans in that no money is given to the parent or guardian, rather they can pick the schools which are just simply choices of schools in the same district. Magnet schools are the last option of school reform and those are schools hat have a specific theme for which they are known for (math, science, performing arts etc) and they are usually found in large, urban areas that enrolls students from all different residential areas in the district.
How proposals for school reform relates to me and my future classroom:
Proposal's to school reform relates to me and my future classroom because they will always be a part of it. Currently our education system is changing from the the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 regulations and expectations to the Common Core Standards regulations and exceptions set to be in place by the 2015-2016 school year. I'm certain in the next few decades, more school reform will occur when it comes to trying to improve education in our school systems and as a teacher, I need to try and read and study and understand so I can be best equipped to help my students.
Scripture:
"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven" - Ecclesiastes 3:1. I chose this Scripture verse because this section is about reform and changes and this verse is saying that for everything there is a season which is important to remember when talking about changes and different policies to put in place. Everything happens in its own time.