Socratic Seminar: Issues in Education

 For our second Socratic seminar, we will be discussing various issues related to public education. In order to prepare for the seminar, please read and take notes on THREE of the articles listed below. Copy the following CHART into your notebook to use for note-taking. I will be collecting your notes on the readings as well as your film notes after the Socratic seminar.

• San Diego Unified Zero Tolerance Policy  (For Your Information Only - Will not be counted as one of your required articles)
• Zero Tolerance Lacks Flexibility
• Newtown Parents Seek More Focus on School Security 
• Scripps Ranch High "Twerking" Scandal 
• In California,Public School Parents Stage a Coup
• Charter School Experiment a Success
• Charter Schools Possess No Magic Formula (Opposing View)
• Study: On Average, Charter Schools Do No Better than Public Schools
• Why I Send My Children to Public School

Some questions to consider for our seminar:

• What are the pros/cons of public education?
• Does public education work? 
• How can our public education system be improved? 
• Is zero tolerance effective?
• What are the pros/cons of charter schools v. traditional public schools?