Completing an EducationCompleting an Education

A Timeline of EducationA Timeline of Education

‘‘Formal’ education is a recent Formal’ education is a recent development in human historydevelopment in human history

In non-literate societies, news and In non-literate societies, news and knowledge was spread through storytelling knowledge was spread through storytelling (a practice that still continues today)(a practice that still continues today)

Children followed, for the most part, in the Children followed, for the most part, in the footsteps of their parents, learning their footsteps of their parents, learning their crafts etc at their sidescrafts etc at their sides

Middle AgesMiddle AgesWealthy boys were sent to “Latin” schools Wealthy boys were sent to “Latin” schools to remove them from the company of to remove them from the company of womenwomen

Interesting Fact: the term adolescent is Interesting Fact: the term adolescent is from the Latin word “adolescere”, which from the Latin word “adolescere”, which means to grow upmeans to grow up

The Age of the Printing PressThe Age of the Printing Press

1515thth century – development of printing century – development of printing press made it possible to publish written press made it possible to publish written work for the ‘general’ public, not just the work for the ‘general’ public, not just the privileged or ‘elite’privileged or ‘elite’

Adults became more knowledgeable than Adults became more knowledgeable than childrenchildren

Up to 19Up to 19thth century century

Young of wealthy families received a Young of wealthy families received a ‘classical’ education – Greek ,Latin, math, ‘classical’ education – Greek ,Latin, math, literature – but not job trainingliterature – but not job training

Little education available for majority of Little education available for majority of childrenchildren

Late 19Late 19thth Century Century

Primary schools established for all childrenPrimary schools established for all children

Working-class parents still resisted Working-class parents still resisted sending their children to school because sending their children to school because they felt that they did not need to learn they felt that they did not need to learn those things – learning to farm or maintain those things – learning to farm or maintain a home was much more practical and a home was much more practical and usefuluseful

2020thth Century Century

Concept of education more widely Concept of education more widely acceptedaccepted

First 30 years – most left at age 14 – First 30 years – most left at age 14 – they had learned ‘all they needed’ so they had learned ‘all they needed’ so could now learn a jobcould now learn a job

1950s1950s

In the 1950’s – Canadians believed In the 1950’s – Canadians believed that providing opportunities for all that providing opportunities for all children to get a good education children to get a good education would contribute to economic equalitywould contribute to economic equality

In 1947, fewer than half of students In 1947, fewer than half of students graduated from high schoolgraduated from high school

By the 1960’s and 70’s the streaming of By the 1960’s and 70’s the streaming of education began (in to ‘levels) that better education began (in to ‘levels) that better met the needs for more young people and met the needs for more young people and better equip them for the job marketbetter equip them for the job market

Post secondary education also became Post secondary education also became more accessible – Baby boom children more accessible – Baby boom children

1980s1980s

goal of education was to provide goal of education was to provide students with the skills that would be students with the skills that would be required in a changing workplace, but required in a changing workplace, but also to encourage students to choose also to encourage students to choose an education suited to their interests an education suited to their interests and abilitiesand abilities

End of 20End of 20thth Century Century

Education viewed as the key to success in Education viewed as the key to success in lifelife

Young people are encouraged to go Young people are encouraged to go beyond high school in order to get better beyond high school in order to get better jobs, and higher incomesjobs, and higher incomes

Focus was on ‘career’ instead of a ‘job’Focus was on ‘career’ instead of a ‘job’

How common is it for young Canadians to How common is it for young Canadians to attend post-secondary programs now?attend post-secondary programs now?

Look at chart on page 74Look at chart on page 74

What are the trends?What are the trends?

CredentialismCredentialism

The trend for education is for it to be The trend for education is for it to be valued as job training rather than for the valued as job training rather than for the knowledge and skills it provides )knowledge and skills it provides )

Career counselling in high schools is Career counselling in high schools is routinely doneroutinely done

Students concerned about marks – will Students concerned about marks – will often not take courses that they feel they often not take courses that they feel they can’t do well incan’t do well in

Education InflationEducation Inflation

Youth today require more education to Youth today require more education to qualify for some jobs now than was qualify for some jobs now than was required in the pastrequired in the past

A high school diploma used to be the A high school diploma used to be the ‘guarantee’ of a good job, however, now it ‘guarantee’ of a good job, however, now it is post secondary training of some kindis post secondary training of some kind

Conflict Theory’s PerspectiveConflict Theory’s Perspective

The demand for higher education The demand for higher education reflects a desire to gain professional reflects a desire to gain professional status and wealth, not higher skillsstatus and wealth, not higher skills

Their argument – it wasn’t Their argument – it wasn’t ‘respectable’ to be a doctor until ‘respectable’ to be a doctor until university training was a requirement university training was a requirement for medicinefor medicine

Employment and EducationEmployment and Education

There is ample evidence that a college There is ample evidence that a college diploma or university degree will improve diploma or university degree will improve your chances of getting a job you enjoyyour chances of getting a job you enjoy

Employers today are looking for people Employers today are looking for people with a broad skills base, - transferable with a broad skills base, - transferable skills are very importantskills are very important

The Gender GapThe Gender Gap

For the last 25 years , the education of For the last 25 years , the education of women has been a focuswomen has been a focusThere are more women in the workforce, There are more women in the workforce, who need higher levels of trainingwho need higher levels of trainingBt 1999 teenage boys and girls perform Bt 1999 teenage boys and girls perform equally well in science and math, but girls equally well in science and math, but girls outperform boys in reading and wriitngoutperform boys in reading and wriitng85% of all high school students will 85% of all high school students will graduate, but only 78% of all boysgraduate, but only 78% of all boys

Women are catching up!Women are catching up!

In 1997 58% of all university degrees were In 1997 58% of all university degrees were earned by womenearned by women½ of the degrees in medicine and law ½ of the degrees in medicine and law have doubled their enrolment of women have doubled their enrolment of women (look at chart on pg 81)(look at chart on pg 81)There is a widening gap now going the There is a widening gap now going the other way – women are beginning to ‘out-other way – women are beginning to ‘out-achieve’ menachieve’ menWhy?Why?

Recent Educational ResearchRecent Educational Research

There has been much research lately into There has been much research lately into how boys learn – most of is saying that how boys learn – most of is saying that boys learn differently than girls, and that boys learn differently than girls, and that the school system right now favours the the school system right now favours the girlsgirls

Boys reading levels are lower than girlsBoys reading levels are lower than girls

Why?Why?

HomeworkHomework

Questions:Questions:

P. 92 # 4,5,7P. 92 # 4,5,7

Read p 79/80 Answer questions #1,2,3Read p 79/80 Answer questions #1,2,3

Be ready to discuss this on MondayBe ready to discuss this on Monday

The Six Thinking HatsThe Six Thinking Hats