Discussion Panel Roles

Hi Marisa,

 

On Wednesday in the panel discussion, you will be the principal of a middle school where there are a high number of students who are high achievers relative to other schools in your district, but where about 20% of the students is having academic struggles (are failing to meet minimum academic standards on state standardized tests). The panel discussion will be a town meeting of various community, school, and district/state representatives to address concern over increasing student failure to meet requirements on basic skills competency tests. The discussion will deal issues such as the following:

 

Who or what is to blame for student achievement declines in the public school system?

Who should be responsible for student achievement on minimum competency examinations?

What role does the school play in student achievement?

Are the miniumum competency (basic skills tests) fair?

Are they (tests) tough enough?

Should individual teachers be held responsible for students who don't meet minimum competency requirements?

Should individual teachers be rewarded for student achievement?

Should schools be evaluated in terms of the overall (mean) level of school achievement, or should they be held responsible for every child performing at a

certain level? For instance, if a large proportion of students are performing at basic level or higher, does this suggest that the school is overall doing a good job? Or does it mean that the school is not accomodating to the needs of all students? For instance, are there certain students who have lower abilities or who are less motivated then others regardless of teacher or school factors? Should the individual student be held most responsible for their academic progress?

Or, do parents play the key role their children's success?

Should parents be held accountable for their children's educational performance more or as much as the individual teacher or school?

 

You should take the position of a principal who feels that parents and individual students should be held more accountable and that the school can only do its part in providing resources and basic skills. Remember to take advantage of personal as well as academic/scientific/popular media resources. Also, you can see the webpage for some perspectives about these issues to help you think about possible points of contention.

 

See you in class!