Viability and Validity Analysis and Diversity Outline Conflict - Assignment Example

Running Head: Viability…. Topic: Viability/Validity Analysis & Diversity Outline Conflict Order#: 281029 Topic: Viability/Validity Analysis & Diversity Outline Conflict 1) Viability/Validity Analysis Introduction: The noble and well-intentioned clauses contained in the education policy related to the high school education in United States are beyond question. What is lacking is their faithful implementation and there are genuine difficulties for it. Comprehensive understanding of the historical developments is necessary to find the reasons for the problems in the implementation process. Apart from the basic objections to the model as anti-democratic and anti-intellectual, it is dubbed as misguided educational policy. What are the current interpretations and misrepresentations of the historic records? “In general, clearly written purposes, criteria, and procedures, outlined in formal policy statements, collective bargaining agreements, and procedural handbooks and shared and discussed with the persons involved in and impacted by the evaluation, will increase the likelihood that performance expectations will be understood, a uniform standard of judgment will be applied, diversity will be appropriately and consistently addressed, and the results will be respected and used.” (P-2, Formal….) Where is the confusion as for intentions and consequences? As for the scope of this essay, the discussion is about, “Policy 1500 Public Use of School Facilities.” The possible misrepresentation here is about ‘the social efficiency slant.’ The name of the board member interviewed is Mr. Robert Brown. He, generally, looks after the sports and cultural activities of the school. Reporter: Is it a fact Mr. Brown that the school administration has recently turned down the request of an important political party figure to hold an election rally in the school ground? Robert: That’s true! Reporter: Any aversion to this particular political party? In the past, political figures have addressed meetings from this school ground. Robert: No aversion for any party. But the school administration, as a matter of policy does not allow any political meetings within the school campus. Very true, in the past, political figures have addressed student and faculty gatherings from this ground. But those speeches concerned educational issues. No election issues were aired. Political figures are welcome; but no politics within the campus! Reporter: Suppose a political party sends a request to use the ground for a cultural show? Robert: A clear answer to such hypothetical questions is not possible. Each request is meticulously examined by the committee constituted for the purpose by the Board. We are aware that the school buildings and grounds are a valuable community resource and the community is entitled to take best advantage of these facilities. In this particular case, the timing of the cultural show is important. Is it being held, after the elections are announced and will the show influence the voters to vote for a particular party? The facility may be used for the objectives and purposes permitted by Section 414 of the Education Law. Reporter: Suppose a private party books the ground and invites political figures from several important political parties for a symposium on the subjects like, ‘The current political situation.’ Will you permit? Robert: Perhaps not! Once we permitted a symposium, on a controversial topic, and the participants and spectators created an unruly scene. The law is specific on the subject of prohibited uses and it reads. “A. Meetings sponsored by political organizations. B. Meetings, entertainments and occasions that are under the exclusive control of and the proceeds are to be applied for the benefit of a society, association or organization or a religious sect or denomination or of a fraternal, secret or exclusive society or organization, other than veterans’ organizations or volunteer fire fighters or volunteer ambulance workers. C. Any unorganized group unable to assume financial responsibility.”(1500-Public Use….) Reporter: Apart from aversion to politics, would you like to make any statement on the policy of Public Use of School Facilities? Robert: School is a responsive Organization that runs on the goodwill of the community, parents and the students to be precise! The policies are reviewed from time to time. There are two aspects. As required by the State Law. This is done annually. A policy review committee meets outside regular board meetings to take stock, review, recommend modifications to the existing policies or create new policies in the interest of the community. Conclusion: “While the district’s school buildings and grounds are maintained primarily for the purpose of educating students within the district, and district uses take priority, the Board of Education recognizes that the buildings and grounds are a valuable community resource and believes that this resource should be available to the community. District Facilities may be used for the purposes permitted by Section 414 of the Education Law.”(www. niskay....) Public schools are the best hope to test the concept of unity in diversity. This is the place where you come across all sorts of diversity— academic, economic, linguistic, ethnic racial and the like. One rubs shoulders from those who are entirely different from in many areas. It is not always a comfortable feeling. With no legal segregation, yet de-facto segregation exists. Unity of minds is a difficult process to achieve amidst the apparent mix that exists in most of the schools. Take Abraham Lincoln High School, for example. More than 50 percent of the students are of Chinese descent. “If you look at diversity based on race, the school hasn’t been as integrated,” Lincoln’s principal, Ronald J. K. Pang, said. “If you don’t look at race, the school has become much more diverse.” (School Diversity….) 2) Diversity Outline Conflict: a. Description of the incident: In USA the schools have a special responsibility of national significance. To create a new social order by accepting responsibility to build an enlightened society free from all prejudices. School is the only platform from which this challenge can be fulfilled. If it fails here, perhaps it will not succeed anywhere in the country. This incident relates to sharing of a room in the residential hostel building by two students, one black and the other belonging to the white family. Both hailed from rich backgrounds, but the parents of the white boy were richer and gave hefty donations to the student’s welfare fund. The students as such had no objections for sharing the accommodation, the hostel rules provided that two students must share one room. The parents of the white student were not willing for this arrangement. They requested the Chief Warden to allot a separate room for their boy, they were ready to pay additional rent, or allow the boy to share the room with another white boy. They made an oral representation to him, being aware of the legal problems, if the request was put in writing. b. Stakeholders involved: The two students, the parents of the students, (Presently, the black student as well as his parents were not aware of this development), the Chief Warden of the Hostel, who had no authority vested with him for making such arrangements. But he knew the importance of the boy’s father from the point of view of huge donations he had been providing for the school. c. Assess the process and outcome: As the Warden had no authority to take decision on the issue, he took the matter to the highest authority of the Board of governance of the school. In this case also, oral representation was made, as it was an explosive issue related to racism. The Director of the School sought a meeting with the parents of the white boy, requested them for patience and understanding, as the issue was combustible and could endanger the harmonious relations between the various communities in the school. The issue was amicably solved, but not before the parents was made aware that it was the duty of the school administration to protect and value the dignity of each student. The school was obliged maintain an environment free of harmful discrimination. No student would accept or tolerate such discrimination. Till the end, both the students and the parents of the black student were not aware of anything and that contributed a lot to diffuse the volatile issue. ============= References: P-2 Formal Evaluation Guidelines – Retrieved on March 18, 2009 1500 PUBLIC USE OF SCHOOL FACILITIES -Retrieved on March 18, 2009 Retrieved on March 18, 2009 School Diversity Based on Income Segregates Some - New York Times15 Jul 2007... -Retrieved on March 18, 2009 Reference: Thaller, M. (2007). Cool cosmos. Retrieved August 27, 2007 from http://coolcosmos.ipac.caltech.edu/. In-text: (Thaller, 2007) . Read More