The Political Context Of Education - 1504 Words

Sarah K. Hutchins Final Exam December 12, 2014 ELE 352-001 DeWalt Stephen F. Austin State University Fall 2013 Final Exam The political context of education today has a lot to do with how its purpose has changed over time. Throughout history, there have been two competing purposes of education –public aims and advancing the interests of individual economic consumers who want more societal access and advantage (Labaree, 2011). These two competing views have illustrated the evolution of the purpose of education from keeping the faith, to preserving the republic, to stimulating the economy, to finally promoting social opportunity (Labaree, 2011). Currently, education is seen as a private commodity for social opportunity in†¦show more content†¦The resulting system is one where educational success is measured by standardized tests and where students are put into tracking systems that can permanently affect what sort of opportunities they receive in this country (Mayer, 2008). The hallmark of this system is the rising educational levels of our nation citizens and the huge achievement gap we s ee in schools and in our society (Tamir, 2011). Society plays a huge role in education because it helps define its purpose. Labaree (2011) asserted that one of the main reasons for education reform was because school needed to adapt itself to help society realize its new ideals, which have involved faith, civic virtue, economic efficiency, racial equality, or individual liberty in the past. The role society has played in American education, however, can’t be explored until the concept of meritocracy is understood. There is a belief in American society that if one works hard, then they can achieve their dream. This is called meritocracy and it is a defining feature of American society and education itself. This belief, however, is not always exhibited in America’s classrooms or in its society. In education, tracking is a large threat to education’s promotion of social equality (Mayer, 2008). Many of the students in low-track curriculums are ethnic minorities from low socioeconomic backgrounds (Mayer, 2008). The reason for this can be seen in the causes of the large gaps we see in our society.