Week 2 Resources

Students presented the following resources in class on August 30:

Glaeser, E.L., Giacomo, A.M., Shleifer, A. (2007). Why Does Democracy Need Education? (Published online-- ask Alyson for URL)
This article suggests a correlation between education and democracy. An educated population is more likely to establish and support a democracy, which in turn relies on a system of education.

Parker, W.C. (2006). Public Schools are Hotbeds of Democracy. The Forum for Education and Democracy. Retrieved from: http://www.forumforeducation.org/resources/index.php?item=296&page=27.
This online article expresses the idea that public schools "possess the essential assets for cultivating democratic citizens" and offers three key strategies to help students transition from "idiocy to puberty."

Isaacson, L. (1998). Student dress codes. (Report No. ERIC Digest 117). Retrieved from: http://eric.uoregon.edu/publications/digest117.html
Article focuses on the arguments for and against school uniforms as an expression of democracy.

http://www.greendot.org/news/article/green_dot_to_open_10_new_college_prep_schools_in_watts
Article about Green Dot Charter Schools and an example of teachers, students and parents forming a community to challenge a traditional school district in the interest of providing a superior educational experience.

"Easing of No Child Left Behind." San Luis Obispo Tribune. August 30, 2007.
Discusses how the existing law does not provide for a realistic assessment of English language learners.

"College Entrance Exam-- Average Scores Drop to Lowest Level in 8 Years." Lompoc Record.
Discussion of the role cognitive science is taking in the high-stakes-testing era of education.

sanluisobispo.com (this is the Tribune website-- for details see Chad)
True democracy is equality among everyone. Are we moving toward oligarchy? Widening the gap of oppression?

Takaki, R. A Different Mirror. (for publication information see Laura)
This book focuses on economics as the central factor of inequality in the United States: "The Civil Rights revolution, however, was unable to correct the structural economic foundations of racial inequality." (p.409)