EDU 103
Issues and Practices of American Education
CHAPTER SIX
Assignment
Please bring your typed responses to the following items with you the day the chapter is
discussed in class. The assignment is due when class begins.
A. Personal Connection: Read “Teaching in an Era of Reform: The Essential Knowledge
Issue” pages 202-203. Take a position on the issue of essential knowledge. State
whether you favor or oppose the emphasis on essential knowledge. Justify your response
(100-150 words).
B. What’s New? To learn more about your personal educational philosophy, please
complete the philosophy survey (given in materials first day of class) and turn it in as part
of this week’s chapter assignment. Summarize if you agree or disagree with the results.
Justify your response.
C. Curriculum: Read pages 330-336, section entitled “Curriculum Controversies”.
Choose one of the curriculum controversies and describe how the controversy will impact
you as an educator. Justify your answer.
D. Philosophical Thought: Read this section of your textbook: Traditional Schools of
Philosophy (pp. 191-193). Describe each traditional philosophy (idealism, realism,
pragmatism, and existentialism).
Chapter Quiz Study Guide
 You are responsible for reading the chapter as well as other assigned pages for the chapter
quiz and/or formal examinations.
 Important concepts for this assignment include: sex education, character education, moral
education, service learning, intelligent design, creationism, censorship, idealism, realism,
pragmatism, existentialism
Revised Fall 2007