What role have schools played in the evolution of American Society? What role could/should they play, going forward? This course takes a topical approach to these questions. We will explore the relationship between schools, democracy, and social progress; take a close look at race and racism in America’s schools; learn how schools work in terms of policy, governance, and funding; and critically analyze the effects of many waves of educational “reform,” including the current movement towards school privatization. While the focus is on the American school system, our perspective will be enlarged by comparison between this system and other approaches to education around the globe.
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