EDL 702 - History of Public Schooling In the United States

This course is designed to provide both aspiring and practicing PreK-12 school leaders with a social historical examination of the development of public schooling in America. From this review, students will discern the dynamic connection between the ever-changing needs of the society and the consequent demands on its schools. The course draws attention to the power dynamic that has and continues to exist between those who shape decisions about the purposes and content of public school curriculum and those who are the intended recipients of those decisions. History reveals an ongoing power struggle between these two constituencies that can provide valuable insight for school leaders as they design and implement continuing school reforms. Class sessions will provide opportunities for discussion and reflection on the lessons of history and their implications for effective leadership in the contemporary U.S. public school setting.

Credits: 3