Education and Society
Mo Baptiste, Assistant Professor
(3 credits)
The Education Department at Ithaca College believes “that true excellence in education requires a commitment to equity and social justice. Thus, we strive to prepare creative, culturally competent, critically reflective graduates who possess deep knowledge in their fields of study and work collaboratively to achieve high quality education for all.” In order to change the world, all its citizens need to be armed with the knowledge to make those changes.
Education and Society will explore the question, “What role does -- what role should -- education play in the shaping of society?” This course is appropriate for students interested in any field associated with education -- psychology, sociology, anthropology, political science - to name only a few academic disciplines that intersect with the field of education.
Topics to be covered in the class will include:
- the history of public education in the United States
- the purposes of public schools in a democratic society
- the concept of equal opportunity in education
- multicultural education
- the impact of race in our schools
- gender issues
- sexuality issues
- school/youth violence
- standardized testing
- religion in public schooling
- the influence of socioeconomic factors on schools and educational experiences
- the financing of American schools
- ability grouping and tracking
Students will read academic articles by some of the leading scholars in the field. Students will also engage in critical thinking and critical dialogue.
