Discussion Questions

1. What is meant by the school and the community to have a “symbiotic relationship?”

2. How do you feel about hearing that teaching is ranked as the 5th most prestigious profession?

3. Why do you think African-Americans identified drop-out rates, low college attendance, and graduation rates as their top concerns?

4. What challenges do you see as a teacher with the wide diversity of family situations today?

5. What are some rituals, expectations, and rules that are common today in school culture? Which of these are positive and which are negative?

6. Do school traditions still have a place in education?  What school traditions could have a negative connotation or impact?

7. Why do you think religion has been such an ongoing area of conflict in schools?

8. How do you see the schools working through the English versus native language debate in a fair manner?

9. What is meant by, “if you keep the student and his/her needs as the focus of the conversation, you will begin to develop a common goal?”

10. What is meant by, “it takes a village to raise a child?”

11. How has the emergence of school choice changed the landscape of public education? Do you think these changes are for the better, in terms of quality of public education? Explain your answer.

12. What social barriers will you face with the future parents you will partner with in your goal to educate your future students? What strategies do you plan to employ to break down these barriers in communication and collaboration with these families?

13. Why do you suppose Americans rank their local schools so much higher than they do public schools on a national level?

14. How will you strive to be sensitive to the cultural needs and diversity of the students you will serve? What will the cultural “norms” of your future classroom be?

15. We know that teachers are not to proselytize in school. What does this mean for your future classroom in terms of holiday parties and activities? Is it okay to play Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas is You while your students are transitioning in your classroom?

16. How do schools handle the issue of parents’ rights to not have their children exposed to specific books or curriculum? For example, if parents object to you teaching the theory of evolution, what course of action does the school take? What are your personal thoughts on how this Is handled?