11

Schools

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of

young minds.”— Anatole France

French Novelist, 20th Century

“The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of

young minds.”— Anatole France

French Novelist, 20th Century

Chapter Title

Transitions in Schooling

Middle to Junior High School = Stress– Puberty– Formal operational thought– Responsibility and independence– Impersonal school structure– Heterogeneous set of peers– Focus on assessment

What Makes a Successful Middle School / Carnegie Report Recommendations – Develop smaller communities– Lower students-to-counselor ratio– Involve parents and community– Develop better curricula– Team-teach in flexible blocks, integrating

several disciplines– Boost students’ health and fitness

Transitions in Schooling

The American High School

New Mission for the 21st Century– Enable all students to graduate– Higher expectations for student

achievement– Provide students with higher quality work

experiences– Increase coordination and communication

K-12

High School Dropouts

Fig. 11.3

Causes of Dropping Out

School-related problems Economic reasons Socioeconomic status Friends drop out Personal reasons

Reducing the Dropout Rate

“I Have a Dream” Foundation

Reduce barriers between school and work

Transition from High School to College

More impersonal school structure Other demands Focus on assessment Reduced contact with parents

Transition from College to Work

May lack vocationally-specific skills

Difficulty obtaining a job

Changing Social Developmental Contexts

Preschool

Elementary School

Secondary Level

Size and Climate of Schools

School Size and Classroom Size

Classroom Climate

Strategies of Classroom Management– Authoritative– Authoritarian– Permissive

Person-Environment Fit

Teachers and Parents– Interactions with Teachers

Teacher traitsUnderstand development

Parents and Schools– Involvement is important

Peers

Structure of middle school Peer statuses Bullying Friendship Crowds

Peers Bullying Behaviors

Among U.S. Youth

Fig. 11.4

Culture

Socioeconomic Status– Barriers to Learning

Ethnicity– School Segregation– Jigsaw Classroom

Cross-Cultural Comparisons Secondary Schools

– School begins at age 6 or 7– Stay in school until 14-17 years old– Divided into levels– Entrance exams in Japan only– Sports important in US only

College