Social and Political Position - Annotated Bibliography Example

Social and Political Position Paper affiliation SOCIAL AND POLITICAL POSITION PAPER Today within the society, parents, teachers and students have an issue on the type of school that is appropriate for pupils and students. The question is in choosing between private or public schools. Since long ago, culture and religion have been prejudiced. This paper looks about political and social events that had influence on education. Is the government’s interest in the education of children including having an ability to force guardians and parents to send their kids to public schools instead of private schools? Or do parents have a privacy that does allow them to decide on their children’s education without the interference of the government? This question can well be answered by looking at the Pierce V, Society of sister case. http://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/pierce_vs_society_of_sisters_1925_/#.VE4wyhaD0i8 A man by the name of Robert B. wrote an article on this case. The article name is, “Pierce vs. Society of Sisters” In his case, Robert explains how the supreme court of the US declared a 1922 law unconstitutional. This law compelled children between the age of eight and sixteen to attend a public school. He says that this Oregon compulsory public schooling law had been sponsored by the Ku Klux Clan, the Masons, Federation Patriotic Scientists and other small groups, which believed in the white supremacist, anti-Semitic, Anti-Catholic as well as the nativist believes. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Pierce_v._Society_of_Sisters.aspx Ryan in his article about, “Pierce v. Society of Sisters” explains that in order to draw on popular concerns, these reformers made the argument that private schools used to permit non-American elements to persevere, and that compelling public school attendance was the best way to adapt these varied masses to the culture of the American Protestants. For the enforcement of the law, guardians and parents who failed to send their children to public schools were subjected to paying a fine of one hundred dollars as well as 30 days jail sentence. This system appeared to be highly unreasonable according to the society of sisters. http://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/family-law/family-law-keyed-to-weisberg/private-family-choices-constitutional-protection-for-the-family-and-its-members/pierce-v-society-of-sisters/ Case Briefs is an organization that has analysed the contents of the case. In their article “Pierce v. Society of Sisters,” they say that the sisters specifically claimed that this law was interfering with the rights of parents in their decision to have their children attend private schools in which they could receive religious training. The sisters felt that this act was being unfair. According to the writer, this fact compeled the sisters to file the case. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Pierce_v._Society_of_Sisters.aspx The National Council for the Social Studies explain in their article of “Decision: Pierce v. Society of Sisters,” that the compulsory public school education law was struck down the Unite States Supreme Court on grounds that the law unconstitutionally interfered with parents, and guardians, liberty to direct their children’s education as well as upbringing. Though the High Court noted that states could reasonably regulate their schools, demand that children of certain ages attend certain school categories and levels, and set standards for pupils and teachers, the government will not force parents to send children to public schools. http://berkleycenter.georgetown.edu/cases/pierce-v-society-of-sisters Berkley Centre for Religion, Piece and World Affairs, feels that there lacks evidence to prove that religious schools are not fit for children’s education, in their article on the same case, explain that parents will not be prevented by the government from sending children to religious schools. This case is a good example of how political as well as social factors can influence the society. It is a matter that affected parents, children as well as the government. Everyone wants to maintain their culture but at times it might harm others. Another event that had a great impact on education is the formation of the American teacher’s union. This had real impact on public schools lives, teachers as well as the pupils that they serve. http://www.nea.org/home/11608.htm Sabrina Holcomb in her article “Answering The Call:history of NEA: Part 1,” explains that it was on the summer afternoon back in the year 1857 when forty three educators in Philadelphia gathered. According to her, the purpose for the gathering was to answer a nationwide call seeking educators to unite as a single voice in public education cause. During that time, to learn to read and write happened to be a luxury for many pupils and it was a crime for children of colour. She explains that at around the same time, there were several associations of professional education. However, these only existed on the level of state. NEA as it is called this day started in 1857. Today, it has become the largest association (educational). http://books.google.co.ke/books?id=SCghAQAAIAAJ&pg=PA633&dq=Meyer,+Adolphe.+An+Educational+History+of+the+American+People.+second+edition.&hl=en&sa=X&ei=2DdOVMeAM-GxygOlr4GABw&ved=0CB0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=Meyer%2C%20Adolphe.%20An%20Educational%20History%20of%20the%20American%20People.%20second%20edition.&f=false A writer by the name Mayer is the author of the book, “History of the American People: 2nd edition” (in pages 387-388), he explains that the organization was founded with the purpose of elevating the character as well as advancing the teaching profession interest and promoting popular education cause in the US. This is a great purpose; however, it blocked out women members until the year 1866. Private school male teachers were not allowed to be members too. http://www.nea.org/home/1704.htm In an article by NEA about their history, they say that it was in the year 1870, when the National Teachers Association merged with the American Normal School Association and the National Association of School Superintendents and the merger became the National Education Association. After this, admission requirements became less exclusive. Since then the National Education Association has grown continuously. One hundred years after it had been founded it had seven hundred thousand members. This number grew to 2.1 million by the year 1991. http://www.nea.org/assets/img/PubThoughtAndAction/TAA_07_08.pdf Maitland in her article, “150 Years and growing,” she gives statistics of the membership of NEA. In the year 1991, 2.1 million members included approximately 90,000 retired members, 55,000 students, 175,000 school secretaries, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, custodians and teacher aids, 80,000 college professors. Guidance counsellors, administrators and librarians added up to 100,000 and class room teachers were 1.6 million. The estimated NEA membership in 1995 was 2300,000. http://teaching.about.com/od/unions/a/National-Education-Association-An-Overview.htm According to Derrick Meador, in his article on the NEA, the organization today has over 3.2 million members with its headquarters situated in Washington D.C. and all states have affiliate members in over one thousand four hundred communities all over the nation with a budget of more than three hundred million dollars every year. The writer explains The National Education Association’s stated mission “To advocate for education professionals and to unite our members and the notion to fulfil the promise of public education to prepare every student to succeed in a diverse and interdependent world.” The organization also concerns itself with conditions that are common with other labour unions such as fighting for the wages for its members. The vision of the National Education Association is “building great public schools for every student”. http://www.nea.org/home/18526.htm According to NEA in their article, “More Issues,” there are several important issues which the National Education Association has engaged itself into and that have effect on public schools, professional school employees and students. Currently the association is focusing on reformation of “No Child Left Behind (NCLB), school safety, “Raise Your Hand for public education” as well as the “Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA).” Other issues include: Affordable HealthCare, child nutrition, college affordability, educator tax relief, green schools and environment, rural schools, reading among others. The organization pushes for the increase in education funding as well as discouraging merit pay. The NEA holds events that are meant to prevent drop out as well as supporting minority community outreach. The association also conduct researches on methods of lowering the achievement gap. They push for the reformation of laws that concern charter schools as well as discouraging school vouchers. The National Education Association believes that education for public is the doorway to opportunity. The Association also believes that every student have a right to access quality public education irrespective of place of residence or family income. Over years now, the education and professional teaching significance has at an outstanding rate transformed. It is not just a coincidence that the National Education Association has been at the forefront for the transformation. Some of the National Education Association’s historical developments throughout history involved the welcoming of black members way before the civil war, selecting a woman president at a time when women did not even have voting rights and coming together to merge with the American Teachers Association back in 1966. The National Education Association was formed to ensure that there are rights in place for children and educators and today they continue to do so. NEA has come quite a long way since its formation. It has a lot of benefits for its various members. In fact it is working to ensure a better system of education children. Both the formation of NTA and the Pierce V, Society of sister case are major contributors of what education is like today. Both events are to be appreciated for good work done. References Berkley Centre for Religion, Piece and World Affairs. (2014). Pierce v. Society of Sisters. Resources on Faith, Ethics and Public Life. Case Briefs. (2014). Pierce v. Society of Sisters. Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from casebriefs.com: http://www.casebriefs.com/blog/law/family-law/family-law-keyed-to-weisberg/private-family-choices-constitutional-protection-for-the-family-and-its-members/pierce-v-society-of-sisters/ Derrick, M. (2014). An Overview of the National Education Association. Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from about.com: http://teaching.about.com/od/unions/a/National-Education-Association-An-Overview.htm Meyer, A. (1967). An Educational History of the American People, 2nd Edition. New York: Magraw Hill. National Council for the Social Studies. (2014). Decision: Pierce v. Society of Sisters (1925) . Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from atheism.about.com: http://atheism.about.com/library/decisions/privacy/bldec_PierceSociety.htm NEA. (2006). NEAs Vision, Mission and Values. Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from nea.org: http://www.nea.org/home/19583.htm NEA. (2014). More Issues. Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from nea.org: http://www.nea.org/home/18526.htm Robert, B. (2014). Pierce vs. Society of Sisters (1925). Portland State University and the Oregon Historical Society, 1. RYAN, P. (2004). Pierce v. Society of Sisters. Encyclopedia.com, 1. Sabrina, Holcomb. (2014). Answering the Call: The History of NEA, Part 1. Retrieved 10 26, 2014, from nea.org: http://www.nea.org/home/11608.htm Terry, M. M. (2004). Teachers Unions and American EducationReformP The Politics of Blocking. Article 4, 43. Read More