Focus questions forum 5

1. What are the goals of America’s schools?

the goals are to reform education so that the students benefit from their learning experiences, gain skills and knowledge from the contents and become well equipped mentally and physically to pursue a career that would make them happy for the rest of their lives. Another goal is to help students comprehend the lessons easier through the use of technology. 

1. What school goals are important to you?

I think it's very important for my future students to gain good literacy skills because they can take that with them in any class and any situation outside of school. I also think it's highly important for them to gain communication skills and comprehension skills. Things change and technology especially is constantly updating so the students have to be costumed to understanding how to adapt to change and understand how to follow directions. Also, we live in such a diverse multicultural world that it would be very beneficial for them if they knew how to speak with people that come from different places of the world. 

1. What is a reform? Change? Factors of change? what prevents change?

A reform is making a change to an already existing idea and trying to make it better by altering it. Factors of change really depend on the situation, for example in terms of a school setting, factors of change can be the type of resources used in class, they type of technology provided, the lesson plans used, the in class activities, etc. What prevents change is usually something that has to stay within the lines of the state standards and the state/national rules of the Board of Education

1. Why has school reform become a top national priority?

There is a large educational gap between white students and students of color. White students are receiving more opportunities and more resources than minority students are and that is not correct. Also, there are very low test scores from American students on international tests and very high drop out rate of students in urban areas.

1. What new school options are replacing the traditional neighborhood public school?

Parents are more involved in their children's curriculum than before, there is a bigger charter school movement and students have the access of taking their courses online now. 

1. What is the role of teachers and students in reforming our schools?

The role of the teacher is to provide students with the best education that they can teach in their power. It is the teacher's job to create a safe and comfortable environment for the student so that the students are willing to participate and makes learning less difficult.  The role of the student is to listen and communicate with the teacher about the content or anything that they might be struggling with. Their role is also to fulfill the tasks assigned by the teacher, to the best of their abilities. 

1. What are the characteristics of effective schools?

Strong administration, clear goals for the administration and the teachers, a safe setting and climate within the school, frequent monitoring and assessment and setting high expectations for the students.