Nolyn Brunner

5/15/2015
School and Society
Course Evaluation
Overall I found School and Society to be an eye-opening course. Before
beginning this class I was unaware of wealth inequality that exists in the United States
and segregation within our schools. The topics discussed and opinions we have formed
are pertinent to becoming a teacher who is educated in social issues and the factors that
may make it difficult for our students to learn. I think that one of the first articles that we
read by Davies and Guppy, Sociological Approaches to Education was a bit wordy and
lengthy. It was interesting to read the theories behind the purpose of education, but
sometimes to difficult to pick out what was important. I think the Diane Ravitch book
was the most comprehensive. It managed to encompass most of the important points from
the other readings and list out realistic solutions. I think the course could lose a few
readings and spend more time on the book without losing very much. Many of the
opinions and ideas were reiterated over and over again in the different readings. Same
opinions, different people. The workload was pretty intense. Lots of reading and writing
and it made it difficult to spend much time on my other classes. I think it could be
modified to be a bit less. My major takeaway from this course was the failure of our
current reforms. Of course I'd heard of common core and privatization and narrowing of
curriculum but this class comprehensively explained each of these and how they fail. As a
music education major, I find the narrowing of curriculum alarming and I can't
understand how those in leadership positions think we can raise well-rounded individuals

when children are lacking physical education, music, art and other special classes that
enrich their education. I believe that having taken this course I will be able to be more
fair to my students having realized we all don't start life with the same opportunities. I
also realize that with our education system being in sort of turmoil of change at the
moment, I will have to form my own opinions on reform and stand by them.