Module 1 Discussion 1


Complete the following “Jigsaw” activity. Each member should select two of the following issues and share his/her thoughts on the impact each had on education, then and now. Your responses should be posted under “Discussions”, Module 1- Discussion 1. Please add comments or questions to others’ posts. Remember that you need to read each others’ reports to gain an understanding of the material.

• Early Colonial Efforts
• Northwest Land Ordinance, 1785
• Brown vs. Board of Education, 1954
• Sputnik and NDEA,1957-58
• Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 1965
• Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act, 1975
• A Nation at Risk Report , 1983
• No Child Left Behind, 2001

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)
Impact Then:
This decision by the US Supreme court paved the way for greater equality in the American Education system. Although results weren’t achieved immediately, they were quite long lasting and had a broader effect than what was possibly initially intended. As the reading material stated: 
“…Instead of being the climax of the struggle for racial equality in education, Brown marked the beginning of the Civil Rights revolution. Although the Civil Rights movement began with Blacks, perhaps because the basic vision of what was wrong was most viable in the history of Blacks in America, the general principles of the movement were later applied to advancing the rights of women, racial and ethnic groups, the aged, and the disabled.”
As I stated before, the results weren’t achieved immediately. Violent protest and political confrontation, especially at the state level, kept this decision from being enforced in many areas. In fact it took years and additional legislation (The Civil Rights Act of 1964) for there to be noticeable change and progress in the area of desegregation. This also lead to others obtaining equal educational rights not previously enjoyed and which we are still blessed by today.
Impact Today: (perhaps a different take on this issue than normal...)
One of the things that I love about this Supreme Court decision is what the justices said about one of the negative effects of segregation: 
“…The policy of separating the races is usually interpreted as denoting the inferiority of the negro group. A sense of inferiority affects the motivation of a child to learn.”
Treating a student differently than most, as though he were inferior, leads the student to believe that he is inferior and therefore causes him to be less motivated than he would be otherwise. I think this aspect of Brown vs. Board of Education can have great implications for classrooms today. When a student (or group of students) is singled out for being inferior (esp. in intellectual terms) there can be very serious negative side effects. The student may start to believe the restrictions that others are placing on him and his desires to succeed and his motivation to learn will most likely suffer. As future teachers of America I believe that it is our responsibility to ensure that our classrooms are environments of social and emotional harmony where students will be treated equally, not just in terms of race, sex, religion, etc. but even in areas of (perhaps) perceived disabilities.


A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform (1983)
Impact Then: In the opening pages of the report it states: “The educational foundations of our society are presently being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity that threatens our very future as a Nation and a people.” It further states: “If an unfriendly foreign power had attempted to impose on America the mediocre educational performance that exists today, we might well have viewed it as an act of war.” 
This stirring and poignant language mobilized people to action attempting to reform the aspects of achievements and accountability in education. This report prepared the way for the Educational Reform Movement of the 1980s. 
Impact Today: In current legislation of NCLB, a major focus is on the issue of accountability. I can’t help but to think that the idea of accountability as described in NCLB was born in the Reform Movement of the 1980s spearheaded by A Nation at Risk. Thus we may be seeing a continuing effect of this in today’s educational system.


Comments from discussion page:
Megan  Jan 24, 2012 3:47am
I really liked what you pointed out in the "impact then" segment of your first topic. I know that the idea of "separate but equal" is discounted as an impossibility but I guess I had never quite thought it out the negative effects of segregation as well as you were able to explain them.
I think it is interesting that you mentioned NCLB in your "impact today" on your second topic because I would be inclined to agree with you on the possibly birth of NCLB from those ideas but at the same time, I think NCLB probably took accountability to an extreme that was not intended in the original reform.
Very interesting and informative post overall.


John  Jan 24, 2012 1:06pm
Megan, I completely agree with you about how accountability is mismanaged and misused in NCLB.  The principle of accoutability is good but the execution of it in NCLB is horrible. Just horrible.  Thanks for your comment!


John  Jan 24, 2012 1:23pm
One more note on accountability: The thing that bugs me (according to my understanding of NCLB from the reading) and the reason that I think that accountability is such a bad word among educators relating to NCLB is that all the accountability is placed on the Teachers and Teaching institutions and none is placed upon the students.  To assume that the teacher/institution has complete control of the learning of the student is ludicrous.  Again, according to my understanding, NCLB doesn't speak of student accountability.  Personally, if I fail EDSC 3050 it will be because of my own shortcomings not those of the professor and University. 


Marlin  Jan 24, 2012 6:09pm
I liked what you said about the Brown V. Board of education and its impact today. When studying history we often have more insight as time passes. When looking back we often think, "how could they act that way? Or, I can't believe that actually happened, that would never happen today." I like how you related something in the past that is actually going on today. I would have never made the connection that you did, great job. I think its a valid point when students are treated as being inferior they will not be as motivated to learn. I think majority times students will learn at the level that they are placed. So if you put a child in remedial classes they will perform at that level, but if you mainstream them into "normal" classes they will learn at normal levels. I know that this is not always the case but you brought up a strong argument. Thanks.


Jennifer  Jan 25, 2012 11:36pm
One of the most important things done by the government at the time and its lasting consequences. It must have been such a great victory at the time, and to see the progress throughout time for not only those discriminated against for their race but also others like you said like women and other minorities. This is a random thought but I wonder when all of the scholarships and funding came into effect for minorities? Possibly pressed forward after laws were passed for equality.