Critical Issues in the History of Education

This course examines the centrality of race, class, ethnicity and gender in defining the American educational experience. The class will examine four historical periods: Colonial America, the 1840?s and the Common School Movement, Reconstruction and the Progressive Era. Current issues like community control, tracking, religion and education, racial and sexual harassment, integration and equitable funding of schools will be examined in terms of their roots in these historical periods and in terms of their relationship to issues of race, ethnicity, gender and class. Students will become familiar with historical research methodology as they examine and analyze issues in the history of education.