My thinking of education has drastically changed from day one of this course. Being an exercise science major I began the class with little outside knowledge on the profession of teaching. I found myself struggling to complete the blogs on the topics simply because I never had a solid understanding on the topics. After researching and reflecting on my opinions as well as others, I can say I have grown and opened up to many educational issues.

            The first topic we discussed in class was what was the purpose of education; I chose to write on college and career readiness. The first blog topic I felt comfortable with simply because I had an opinion on how my school did not prepare me to the best of their ability for college. After in class discussions and reading my peers blog I believe many people felt the same way I did. I think that education needs to work toward making children ready for the real world whether its preparation for college or a career. I still strongly stand by this opinion.

            The second topic we discussed was the Common Core Standards. This topic really stumped me. After researching the topic and collecting data I found myself believing that the Common Core Standards are appropriate in education. I thought personally it was a very good idea on paper, like most ideas in education. In class discussions opened up my thinking on the subject to see that their could be complications. At this point in the class I realized that in education the true answer really always will be it depends. I believe now that the Common Core Standards may or may not work, that it depends on the school, community, students, teachers, and other outside factors.

            After Common Core, we discussed the teacher salaries being directly related to student progress. I was shocked when I was one of the only students in the class who agreed with the new regulations. I tied my belief to Robert Paiget theory that individuals work towards goals or positive outcomes. I was one of the only students who thought education should be treated like all other professions. After hearing feedback from other classmates, I could see where salaries based on student’s performance could seem unfair.  Although I still believe merit pay could benefit education. However, I must add that it depends on the situation. I do think it would help educators strive to do well, but at the same time it could create corruption and cheating in the education setting.

            Vouchers were the next area we focused on. When I wrote my blog I had a very strong stance that was for vouchers. I stated that vouchers gave students who came from lower income families a chance to have a great education. I still believe that vouchers are a beneficial resource in education. In class we had a debate on this topic. Honestly I believe that was the most impacting class to me. I was able to actually get heated in an educational debate. On the first day of class I never thought I would be able to choose sides on the topics simply because I was not wanting to become a teacher. I was able to argue my opinion and actually really believe in what I was standing for. After the debate and speaker I still strongly agree with vouchers.

            I can say out of all the education classes I have had to take, I have gotten the most out of ED244. I have learned how to write on topics by supporting my arguments. I learned about key topics in a field that one way or another will effect me. Both are areas in which I needed to be educated on. I developed from day one in the course I was dreading having to do so much work to develop an opinion on topics I though I’d never need or use, to now being grateful for all I have learned.

           

The school I chose to study for the school analysis project is the IPS, Butler Lab School. It is an Indianapolis school, in which Butler University has taken over. The school was formally known as the William Bell School. Many refer to the school as the Butler lab school. However, in reality it is still an Indianapolis public school. Therefore, the data of the school and community is directly related to schools similar. The Butler Lab School’s diversity is estimated at 92% black. Eighty-five percent of the students that attend this school are currently on free or reduced lunches. The school does not have a very large ENL student population; the school currently has two percent. One portion of the public school that is not common practice is the fact one must be accepted into the school. The Butler Lab School does accept most of all applicants based on several factors.  There is not an exact enrolment number given.

The Butler lab school does not have sports teams as extracurricular activities. This school focus is placed on the arts; therefore many of their extracurricular activities include ceramics, creative writing, drawing, painting, and sculptures. They do hold extended care services that start at seven am and end at five thirty pm, for parents who need help with childcare while at work.

The Butler Lab School is currently a developing school; the school currently has grades kindergarten to second grade. Each year the school will add a grade to their building until grade eight. The Reggio Emilia approach focuses on a child's natural development. It's child-centered and directed, taking the philosophy that learning must make sense to the student in order to be effective and meaningful. A child's point of view is completely respected. Therefore, after the students learn a topic they are most of the time sent to learn the material their way based on long-term projects. The school focuses on the workshop method, this includes reading, writing, and math. The school focus is movement is in everything they do, not just “special classes”.

The staff of the Butler Lab School are all graduates of Butler University College of Education. The school contains six full time teachers that teach blended classrooms of grades kindergarten and first graders or a class of first and second graders. These classroom styles help with child development and growth.

The Butler Lab School is doing great things in my opinion with education. Indianapolis public schools have a history of being recognized as “bad” schools, or schools that do not meet standards and educational needs of students in the area. The school has used their Reggio Emilia style to create a home like atmosphere; all rooms are lighted with laps, which give each classroom a warm comfortable place to learn. The students do not have the typical desk and chair workspace, nor does the teacher. This idea is to make all students and teachers on an equal level. Taking a step into the school you will notice that the students are referred to as friends, not students. I believe this setting allows proof that they are striving for living up to No Child Left Behind. The school has a feel of family and community all things I believe are critical in a child’s development.

The mission statement of the Butler Lab School is “to inspire children to transform the world”. I believe that is just what the school is doing in the community. 

                               Work Cited

"William A. Bell." William A Bell. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. http://60.ips.k12.in.us/.

"William A Bell School 60." GreatSchools. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. <http://www.greatschools.org/indiana/indianapolis/856-William-A-Bell-School-60/>.

Indiana is home to one of the most expansive school voucher laws in the country, I believe that school vouchers support choice, I also believe they increase completion and leads to better student outcomes. Vouchers give students regardless of their economical stance in society a fair chance at education. Not only does it allow children with a poor background a fair chance at school but gives them hope in the long run of life. Allowing anyone to attend private schools help make private schools diverse allowing children of all nationalities, incomes, life experiences, and etc to learn from one another.

Parents who are financially well off have the choice and option to place their child in better schools systems. Children born into families with a more unstable income are not given a fair chance for placement in schools. Vouchers give children who are not given the opportunity to buy themselves into great schools, an equal chance as the students with money.

Private schools have a history of getting results of teaching information and values than public schools. Children who come from what’s considered poor families and communities tend to be raised with lack of values and information from their parents. Allowing these students a chance to experience a rich education that includes values and morals helps the community in the long run.

Private schools tend to show strong importance in certain areas of study. For example, a private school may focus on college preparation. This will strongly impact students who use vouchers. Most children who need the vouchers to attend a private school need the guidance and support of a school system. College preparation is not the only area that private schools focus on, they can focus on math, language, science, etc. This can give children who struggle in certain subjects the chance to grow and develop with special attention.

Allowing anyone to attend private schools will cause diversity. Diversity in today’s society is a huge everyday way of life. In private schools a lot of times students lack the diversity aspect of the classroom. Having a diverse classroom allows students to learn from one another. This shows students that there are other ways of living than how he or she currently lives. Diversity allows other cultures and customs to be brought to children attention.

Individuals who are against vouchers argue that the government is imposing on religion. This in my eyes is incorrect. The parents of the children are choosing whether or not their child will be attending a religious or non-religious private school.  There for the government is not imposing on individual or constitutional rights.

I believe that vouchers will create a well-educated future. Vouchers are a way to educate all members of society at a private level.  Vouchers will increase college rates, diversity, community improvement, and much more. I believe that Indiana should continue with the voucher system to allow all children an equal chance to become successful. 

The state of Indiana now is requiring annual teacher evaluations that link directly to teacher’s salaries. These requirements are known as merit pay. I am a supporter of merit pay for educators. I believe that Educators need the regular feedback on children’s learning. If educators are not aware of their performance, they are unable to grow and develop as professionals. Robert Paiget a prestigious psychologist believes that individuals work or perform for reward. This study has been proven to be accurate in animals, children, and adults. Therefore, having teachers work towards an evaluation, knowing that a pay raise or possible pay cut is at stake will be beneficial to the education profession.

I believe that education is a very hands on learning career. In other words educators learn as they go, the more practice in a classroom the better they are. With merit pay, educators are being given a reason to strive for excellence and grow in a positive direction. Receiving regular feedback on their student’s performance will allow them to reflect on what is working with students and what is not. This data can show an educator the long-term growth of their professional development. Education as a whole should always grow in an upward direction, therefore the merit pay should not be viewed negative. If educators are doing their job properly the merit pay will be very beneficial.

The majority of careers and jobs in the economy today base employee income and greater job opportunities are determined by performance evaluations. Educators should be on the same level professionally as other employers on the community. For example my father works in the health care field, if he does not pass a physical at the end of each year he does not get his yearly bonus. This idea is strive for the individuals to not only doing their job but also being their job. Like a chef in a restaurant, if schools/ educators are not meeting standards and are not performing well on test parents who can, will remove their children from the school and move them to a school that is performing well. Education is much like passing a physical exam in the health field. Individuals promoting or trying to gain wellness of others need to be well themselves. In education teachers need to both teach and learn. By this I mean that part of being a teacher means to learn how to teach children of all kinds. Individuals who argue against merit pay state that children who my have special disabilities, come from rough home lives, or other outside factors do not make merit pay fair. I do not believe this is a factor. Part of a teacher’s job is to work with individuals of all types, to discover what teaching mechanisms work and which ones do not. If a teacher continues to work with students that struggle the out comes of merit testing would still be very beneficial.

I am a strong believer in merit pay. Scientific studies and individuals in other careers can reflect positively that merit pay will help the education career. Teachers will teach with a purpose and a goal. 

As an Indiana citizen I am thrilled to be informed that Indiana is adopting the Common Core standards for our state. I feel its is necessary for educators to have a common goal to reach for. Without goals to reach for I feel that teachers get side tract. With the Common Core standards the teachers must strive to meet goals in English/language arts and mathematics. The standards allow parents students and educators to all know what the children must learn.

As an individual not in the education field I am able to draw on all sides of the situation. I believe these standards allow parents to know what they need to work with their students outside of class; it allows teachers to have a focus and a goal to work towards with their students. Over all these Common Core standards prepare students for the real world. I believe the most important aspect of education is to prepare students for the real world, careers and college. Without Common Core standards students of different areas and economic factors will differentiate on knowledge and skills compared to those in other areas. I believe that these standards will make education more equal as a whole in the state of Indiana.

 Not only do the standards create great students, communities and schools, as a whole will grow from these standards. Great schools are the foundation of great communities. If students are learning how to be whole individuals while being prepared for the real world the community will slowly start to grow in a positive direction. The students will start to develop a community that is well educated and economically stable. The standards are also allowing students to be educated in a way in which employers will value from.

         Over all I believe people work better when striving for goals or following rules and regulations. With these Standards all individuals know what is expected of them to succeed and progress in the education system.

I am very thankful that the state of Indiana has adopted the Common Core standards. I am very excited to see the positive changes in our communities as well as our future.

I believe that college/ career readiness is the most important aim in today’s education. I believe that children need to be prepared for real life events such as careers, people interactions, and a more studious form of education. I believe as an individual with interest outside of the education field, that children a lot of times are pushed through school to meet statistics or because some higher up authority “makes them”. Schools are starting to create programs that help children pick careers and plan for college, however, in most cases I do not feel as if the students are prepared for the “real world”.

            Students are going through school for twelve or more years without proper education as far as how to study, write, and how to be responsible young adults. Personally in high school I was viewed as “a smart kid”, however, after getting into college I realized that my k-12 schooling had not prepared me on how to send formal emails, how to write a paper without writing a five paragraph essay format, or how to manage my time properly. All of these aspects can set a student up to fail in the real world, such as in college or a career.

            College preparation to me is not just how to score well on a standardized test or how to read on an advanced level. I believe college preparation includes teaching students how to be independent, educated, resourceful, professional, and many more social aspects.

            Schools are focusing on passing standardized test and graduation rates rather than on the success rate of the students in their community. Some simple areas in which I believe school corporations should reflect on college and career readiness are areas such as are students attending Universities or community colleges, are they making stable incomes, are they living on welfare, are they moving away or moving back to the communities in which they were raised. All of these factors reflect college and career readiness. Communities will never positively grow and develop without some improvements on preparing students for college and careers.