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EDU110E History and Philosophy of Education in America (3 credits) 9542
COURSE DESCRIPTION
The goal of this course is to provide students with an understanding of how philosophy and worldviews have impacted education in America. The course emphasizes the influences of the Christian faith on education. Much of this influence has been within the public school system.
LEARNING RESULTS
The student will be able to:
• Understand the historical development of the most important philosophical and historical movements in American education.
• Understand how worldviews affect the kind of education children receive in the public schools.
• Provide a Christian critique of some aspect of American public education.
• Produce a philosophical framework and practical guide for how Christians can teach in the public schools.
• Understand the significant role of Christianity in the development of education in America.
• Understand the current philosophical atmosphere in public schools with the rise of postmodern philosophy.
REQUIRED TEXTS AND MATERIALS
Portions of these books and articles will be required reading for students.
• Johnson, Phillip E. Reason in the Balance: The Case Against Naturalism in Science, Law & Education. Downers Grove, Illinois: InterVarsity Press, 1998. Selected chapters.
• Morgan, Edmund S. The Puritan Family: Religion and Domestic Relations in Seventeenth-Century New England. New Edition, Revised and Enlarged. New York: Harper & Row, Publishers, 1980.
• Veith, Gene Edward, Jr. Postmodern Times: A Christian Guide to Contemporary Thought and Culture. Wheaton, Illinois: Crossway Books, 1994. Selected Chapters. Students must obtain this Article on their own:
• Kliebard, Herbert M. “Why History of Education?” The Journal of Educational Research. March/April, 1995. Volume 88, No. 4, pp. 194-199.
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The integration of faith and learning takes place in a number of ways in this course. Students develop an understanding of how worldviews have shaped the historical development of American schools. Students examine how the Christian religion has influenced education in America. Students examine worldviews and philosophies that conflict with the Christian religion. They interact with these challenges and offer a Christian critique of them. Students articulate their view of the role of the Christian in public education. Students examine how they can offer an accurate presentation of the Christian faith in the public schools in a way that is scholarly, constitutional, age appropriate and sensitive to student beliefs. LEARNING DOCUMENTATION
To determine if the course learning results have been attained, students document their learning by submitting the following items:
• Use journal entries as an opportunity to react to the assigned readings. Use these journal entries as the basis for response papers. Also, feel free to post comments to the discussion board.
• Submit 5 short response papers on selected assigned readings.
• Submit a 4-6 page essay on the influence of Christianity on American public schools.
• Submit a chronology and description of the significant historical events and philosophies that have shaped education in the United States.
• Submit a 4-6 page essay on the arguments of an author(s) who has provided a critique of American public education. Choose from one of the books listed above. Summarize the most important arguments presented and your evaluation of those arguments.
• Submit a 2-3 page essay on the "Christian teacher's role in the public schools."
• Submit an annotated bibliography (30 items) that will provide useful information and analysis of this topic.
There are 7 lessons and 0 examinations for this course.
LEARNING EVALUATION
Students will be evaluated on a point system according to the following criteria:
Essay-Influence of Christianity on American Education Chronology 100 points
Essay-Critique of American Education 100 points
Essay-Christian Teachers's Role in the Public Schools 75 points
Annotated Bibliography 75 points
TOTAL POINTS POSSIBLE 500 points