101+Agenda+-+9.24.13

10:50 - 11:00 - Welcome, discussion set up

Notetaker: Joanna

Universal Education System- Are American Schools Failing?
 * American Schools are Failing: not doing as well as other countries, different ways of teaching, focus on different things. They are doing a better job of education.
 * We are doing well with what we have. We have more students, so its harder to get everyone on the same levels.
 * Shouldn't compare averages, then what should we compare? If we add more students to the average then it may lower. Who we include in the average can sway the results.
 * Students in other countries spend more time in class, and have higher standards.
 * We have other goals, not just science and math, that we focus on such as music and art.
 * Is America lazy? We aren't taught to work hard, and it could be a cultural thing. We have many different cultures in America, does that have an impact?
 * We are always trying to reform education, we never settle down and see the actual results of the changed policies. Implementation lag, and it take three years to see the actual result.
 * We are like a "battleship"- our education system is huge compared to other cultures. So it is much easier for other countries to change their policies.
 * Japan vs. U.S is beating us in math (60.4% vs. 41.8%)
 * In American students decide classes they are going to take on a local levers, however in Japan the decisions on what classes students take is decided by the government.

School Funding:
 * Does the amount of funds a school receives affect how well a school preforms?
 * Smart phones vs. graduation rates - as the percentage of smartphones increase, the graduation rates increase.
 * Private schools- low on funding, but higher standards. The funds didn't affect students ability to be successful.
 * Who gets the most funding? -suburban areas.... Does it matter how the money is spent? Would it make more sense to have more smaller schools than fewer larger schools?
 * Resources: __The__ __Manufactured ____Crisis __

Fact/Idea with Complication:
 * France- Rating systems (everything out of 20). In America "people give A's for nothing". But is there 17/20 equivalent to our 25/20?
 * How can you compare across systems that are very different?
 * In Asian countries, the teachers are very strict and they demand a lot more of students.
 * For funding it is really difficult to see where other countries are putting their money because it is so different.
 * In other countries if you don't have the money you won't get an education. Not all public schools are free.

11:00 - 11:50 - Discuss global comparisons and funding issues in American education

Useful Links - > > [|http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/gallery/2012/sep/14/schools-around-the-world-children#/?picture=395983374&index=0] > [] (to 3:40) - Introduction (Linda Darling-Hammond) > [] - Schools in Finland; http://finntimes.com/?p=1618 > [] - Afghanistan > [] - Canada
 * []
 * __Schools around the World__

11:50 - 12:05 - Closure


 * to Do:**
 * Finalize service learning placements!