Final Timeline

Final Timeline

Timeline Bibliography

“ A Brief History of the National Catholic Educational Association”. Ncea.org. 13 June 2012.  http://www.ncea.org/about/index.asp

“A Brief Overview of Catholic Schools in America”. Ncea.org. 13 June 2012. Web.

http://www.ncea.org/about/historicaloverviewofcatholicschoolsinamerica.asp

Gardner, David. A Nation at Risk: The Imperative for Educational Reform. 26 April 1983. National Commission on Excellence in Education. 13 June 2012. http://teachertenure.procon.org/sourcefiles/a-nation-at-risk-tenure-april-1983.pdf

“Historical Timeline of Public Education in the U.S. Applied Research Center. arc.org 13 June 2012. http://www.arc.org/content/view/100/217/

Kennedy Knox, Robert.  A Timeline of Private School Events and History. 3 August 2011. Private School Review. 13 June 2012.

http://www.privateschoolreview.com/articles/237

Kolderie, Ted. Ray Budde and the Origins of the “Charter Concept”. June 2005. Educationevolving.org. 13 June 2012. http://www.educationevolving.org/pdf/Ray_Budde.pdf

“Milestones in African American Education” Infoplease. Web. 10 June 2012.

http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0872844.html

Orgins of Chartering Timeline. Educationevolving.org 13 June 2012. http://www.educationevolving.org/system/chartering/history-and-origins-of-chartering

Spring, Joel. The American School: A Global Context From the Puritans to the Obama Era. 8th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2011. Print.

 “St. Ignatius College”. Ohio History Central. ohiohistorycentral.org. 13 June 2012.

http://www.ohiohistorycentral.org/entry.php?rec=2188

Toppo, Greg. “Nation at Risk”: The best or the worst thing for education. 1 August 2008. USA Today. 13 June 2012.

“United Negro College Fund: About Us”. uncf.org. 10 June 2012. Web.

http://www.uncf.org/sections/WhoWeAre/SS_AboutUs/aboutus.asp

Writing Circle 3

In our latest writing circle we discussed each other's work and how we are progressing with our research. Stacie is motivated to write about urban public schools. I can see how this topic is a passion of hers and her research is sure to reflect that.

In our discussion myself and Darcy seem to have particular topics. Darcy is focusing her work on Catholic schools separation from public schools. I am focusing my work on the separation of education as a whole, which will include private vs public education.

I have written often about this topic and it is an issue I admit that I do not fully understand. My research has been effective and allowed me to gather more insight on the issue. Our writing circle discussion was focused a lot on my paper topic and Darcy's. (Sometimes I feel bad because I do not wish to focus all or much of our conversation on my topic but rather on everyone's equally). Our conversation was candid, open, respectful and insightful. It was very interesting to hear Darcy's views and mine, because although we both came from a Catholic High School, we have different views on how this education influences students.

Stacie and Shawn have given me excellent input that I am extremely grateful for. While we were in our circle, Shawn made a comment that poked my interest. He said that he felt that I received a better education than he did because he went to Mayfield and I went to St. Ignatius. This is exactly the type of comment that I want to focus my paper on, What makes Ignatius a better education to some people. Further, what does a better education even entail? I look forward to exploring these ideas in my research paper.

I learned a lot from our writing circle and I can honestly say I enjoyed everyone in out group. It was refreshing to have open, critical conversation. I feel that we were all able to bounce ideas off each other and get a feel for what we wanted to direct our focus on. I always enjoy debate because I see it as an opportunity to learn about a different view or ideal. Our writing circle was able to teach me many things and ultimately give me a solid base for my research. Shawn, Stacie, and Darcy were extremely helpful and I enjoyed every conversation we had together.

My Focus

While conducting my research I found myself asking the question: Why did I focus on this topic? With the work that we did, the readings we analyzed, and the different topics we discussed, I could have been led to any number of different topics. So why did I choose the separation of education? What in my thought process pointed my in this direction?

I believe that my desire for this topic came from my own personal struggle over the issue. I was brought up in Catholic Schools until college. My cousins had gone to Catholic schools. All my friends had gone to Catholic schools. I did not know much else. For the first 2 years in college I always pictured myself having children and sending them to a Catholic grade school then a Catholic high school, hell maybe even my alma mater of St. Ignatius. But then I had a life changing influence come into my life. My current girlfriend and I met and started dating. She had come from an all public school upbringing. Eventually as our relationship grew we discussed what we thought about where kids (if we had them someday) would go to school. Her view was strong that she was not ever going to pay to send her children to a Catholic school when they can get a perfect education for free at a public school. This was her experience. She attended a great public school system in Medina, Ohio and she had succeeded just as much as anyone who went to a private school. I'll admit, her stance took my back at first. But I could see why she felt passionately about the issue. I felt just as passionately that my children should go to a Catholic school. It was our different experiences that led us to these thoughts. But our different experiences also had led us to Ohio State and to successfully graduate. The phrase "There's more than one way to skin a cat" rang true. Meaning, there is more than one way to achieve a goal. Me and my girlfriend had gone through very different experiences, but ultimately ended up in the same place.

Now our different experiences shaped who we were as people, and also how we felt about certain issues, specifically education. After we discussed our viewpoints we were both able to find neutral ground. However, the question has always ate at me. Which path is best? Clearly the answer is not concrete. Many factors such as economical situation and the school district are important.

This experience in my life taught me to constantly challenge ideas. I had a set idea in my mind on how to best raise children through education. But my vision was narrow and inwardly focused. I had not challenged myself to investigate different paths because I had not experienced a different way. Encountering my girlfriend, I came across a different, successful approach that I had not considered before. I believe that many people, even grown adults with children, still live in the fantasy world that I once saw as the only way. In fact there are many ways to bring children through education. There are many ways in which a child can be successful. One is not "better" than the other. Often the experience is just different and that is all. What is important to consider is how the choice will shape the ideas of a child.

I tend to find myself leaning toward public for my children. This is an idea that 3 year ago I would have laughed at. But it is that fact that I despise. I do not want my children growing up and seeing that a private education is the best and only way. I thought that once. I was lucky to be able to gain the proper perspective. At the same time, I would not want my children going through public school and despising private education. There has to be a balance and a respect for all types of education. A respect that took me entirely too long to grasp.

This story and struggle is what led me to my topic. I wanted to research the history of separation in education and relate it to my personal experience. I wanted to find studies and opinion pieces about how different educations effect students. My topic came to me because long before I even took this class, I questioned what kind of impact different educations had.

Should We Leave Public vs Private Alone?

In doing my research I came across an article (link below) that challenged the idea that private education is distinct and separate from a public education. In the article Doug Tuthill argues that with charter schools and other laws that are in place, the line between public vs private is blurry. Charter schools are private in almost all aspects except that they are tuition free. They are privately owned and privately staffed. President Obama has continually vowed to increase support for charter schools. The question is, who gets to go to these schools? The answer may be as simple as: whoever fits the school the best. A charter school is often viewed as a better way of learning than a normal public school. But why? Yes the building is different and class size may be smaller, but education is education. Tuthill takes the perspective that education should not be looked at as private vs charter vs public. Instead, by taking the view of education for all as a whole, the system is just one of finding the best fit for a child. That can be a public institution or a private one. Tuthill argues that private education is not an attack on public education and that those who view it as such need to see it for what it can be. At its best, public and private education work to strengthen each other, not work at odds.

Tuthill raises an intriguing argument. It is his belief that there should not be so much talk and effort in complaining about, analyzing, and changing the way public and private education interact. What Tuthill is pushing for is a world in which public and private interact to provide the best educational system. He provides examples of how this is already occurring with public money to private schools and money to public schools to fund private tutors and programs. Tuthill's ideal world, however, is just that. He does not bring up the socialecnomic factors that influence public and private schooling. There is still a lack of opportunity for those who are less well-off to attend a private school. They have no choice. I believe that Tuthill realizes this, but in his mind as long as both private and public are working together, both can provide an equal education and erase the educational differences that are perceived. However, even if the schools were equal academically in all aspects, the fact that private schooling is simply not an option for many students still leaves a feeling of inferiority. The idea that they cannot have what someone else can. Exclusion. As long as this persists there must be discussion about the issue. There must be a focus on the separation just for the fact that it exists. Without the constant banter, we risk losing the relationship that public and private schools already have.

I agree that the focus needs to be on education as a whole. It needs to be about developing an institution that benefits all equally. But that is not what exists. Until public and private schools have equal graduation rates and equal students attending college there will be talk about the fairness of the system. And even if these statistics were to be equal, the reality that some schooling is unavailable to many people will keep the debate going and going.

Rethinking Public vs Private (starts on pg 44, then scroll up to pg 28)
By: Doug Tuthill
Education Week
January 21, 2009

Public v Private: A Constant Debate

I attended a private Catholic High School and the first year I carpooled everyday to and from school. My second year I was fortunate enough to be able to drive to school almost everyday. I never took a bus. Each day I would arrive at school I saw buses from other public school districts dropping students off at St. Ignatius. To me, this was always very odd.

During our last discussion the issue of busing and private schools was passionately debated. Each person has had a different experience with the subject. Some people went to public schools and have their feelings; some went to private schools and have their feelings. One side may not be completely right or wrong. It is my view that private schooling is a privilege, but far from a necessity or right. When a parent or student is choosing to attend a private school, they are, in a way, rejecting the schooling that the government is offering for free. There is nothing wrong with this, and in districts where the public school system is failing, private school may be the only realistic option for success. However, when the decision is made, then the student and family have decided to pursue an education on their own, outside of what the state is offering. Public taxes for education should not be given to them, but be put into the city and school in which they live in. The taxes are to make the school district the best it can be. They are not for individual pursuit. Dr. Shutkin discussed how the money follows the student. This logic leads to the use of public busing for private school students. I strongly believe that the money should follow the school and the district. For example: I live in Strongsville. If my children attended a private school, I would expect that my tax money would go into improving the Strongsville school district. I would not expect anything for my tax money, from an educational standpoint, because I have rejected what is being offered to me. A question that may arise is: Would you send you kids on a public bus to a private school if one was offered? My answer is: I don't know. I would like to think that I would not, and that my beliefs about the system would keep me from having them take the bus. Realistically, however, if it makes my life easier, and I can get up and go to work without having to worry about my child's transportation, then I'm not sure what my actions would be.

Now this is not to say that there aren't private school students who need the busing. There are many who need it. When choosing private schooling, however, that is part of the process. Even if there are extra buses available in a school district, I still think that the use of the buses for private school students is taking away money from a school district that could use it to improve their services. What is the solution then for private school students who need busing? The answer is complicated. Carpooling could be utilized, or the private school could run their own buses. If a bus that said Saint Ignatius High School on it picked me up, then that is not taking money away from the schools.

I realize the topic of private vs public has been discussed at length already. My intention is not to continue to harp on the same topic over and over. My personal experience has led me to examine the topic more than I maybe even should. Education is education, and maybe the foucs should be on improving the institution as a whole and not worry about petty differences. But improving this difference, this separation, may be am avenue to improving education as a whole. I find private vs public schooling as the aspect of education that most separates students. I know the impact it has had on me.

Timeline 1

Timeline

The above link is to my timeline that I have started.

Analyzing Ourselves

During class on Thursday we further analyzed our reading on how to best conduct autobiographical forms of self-research. At first the reading confused me. I found myself re-reading sentences with little idea of what was being conveyed. But reading aloud with another person made the task simpler. What I gained from the reading was that it is not enough to simply read material, or engage in a conversation and have a reaction or opinion on the matter. My prior blogs have taken this approach and it was helpful to get my ideas and thoughts put together. But after reading about conducting autobiographical self-research I believe that we are being asked to do more than just react and share our stories and opinions. We are being asked to challenge our beliefs and challenge ourselves. To take it a step further, why do I have the opinions I do? Why did I react in this particular way? Why do I see one thing as right and the other as wrong? What part of my being is causing my thoughts? What in my upbringing, and self-formation has shaped my opinions?

I think that evaluating these questions is taking the next step in autobiographical self-research. It is analyzing our analysis and asking "why do I think this" that will lead to new ways of thinking about ourselves and who we are. Just simply having an opinion is not enough. Finding why my opinion is different from someone else's, that is essential.

Honestly, I realize that this can sound like a bunch of language and "nice" to think about, but hard to put into practice. This is what we are being challenged to do however. We are being asked to look into why we are who we are. Inevitably this can lead to never-ending questions. One can always ask "why" to pretty much anything. But when we challenge ourselves to look at who we are, this will open up different ways of looking at a topic or a reading. This will lead to further exploration on an issue we feel passionate about. This is the meaning of the exercise. The goal is not to jump into a wave of endless questions, but to seek answers and find where that takes us. We are being challenged to analyze ourselves as "subjects of education." I believe questioning our beliefs will start us down the right path.