The Challenge of Teaching in a Changing Society

Chapter 2

America’s Challenges

A changing population The changing family The changing nature of

childhood and youth The changing school

A Changing Population

1999

White 71.9% Black 12.1% Hispanic 11.5% Asian/Other 4.5%

2025

White 62% Black 12.8% Hispanic 18.2% Asian/Other 7%

A Changing Population

% of Whites will decline

Hispanics will outnumber African-Americans

% of Asian/others will dramatically increase

A Changing Population

1/3 of Americans will be minorities

% of children in population will decrease from 26% to 24%

Percentage of those over 55 will increase

Implications for a Changing Population cont.

Teachers must educate a more ethnically and racially diverse population.

Teachers will have an increased ESL population (1 in 5 will be an immigrant household).

Teaching jobs will be in urban areas. Teachers will need to bridge gaps

between seniors and children for schools.

The Changing Family

Women are bearing fewer children (so children have fewer siblings).

Parents tend to be older, as adults marry later.

Family styles are changing

Family Styles are Changing

Both parents are working 50% divorce rate (1/4 of

America’s children live in a single-parent household)

Less focus on traditional family obligations

In some cases, grandparents are becoming primary caregivers

Divorce

¼ of American children live in single-parent households (mostly headed by a female)

Single families headed by women, especially African-American women, are more likely to be poor

2/5 White & 3/5 African Am. children will experience a second divorce

30-40% of all marriages are remarriages, resulting in many blended families

Children of Divorce

Reduced achievement

Reduced school completion

Increase in early sexual activity, child bearing, and marriage

Implications for Schools

Some say that the transformed American family is largely unprepared to meet the challenges of raising a child and therefore will call upon government health care institutions, schools, and voluntary organizations to help.

Family Influence on Schooling

Presence of parents at key times (before & after school) is associated with less negative adolescent behavior.

Children from higher-SES families are more likely to do better in school.

Parent attention, understanding, and love are associated will less early sex, smoking, or substance abuse.

Family Influence (Stats from One Study)

High % of high achievers came from 2-parent families

Single-parent households:

Disproportionate % of elem. children were tardy Large % created discipline problems K-12 children suspended twice as much 40% of school dropouts 100% of those expelled

At-Risk Predictors

Health problems at birth Parents without secondary

education Family histories of alcoholism or

mental illness

Success Predictors

Two-parent families Healthy family culture with a

good work ethic

How Parents Can Help Children Succeed in School

Hold high parental expectations Reinforce education by encouraging

reading, showing care about school life, finding study area at home

Need strong, ongoing support from schools and teachers

Formal parent involvement programs

7 Steps to Good Teacher-Family Partnerships

Make partnerships a priority Plan for the partnership Provide parents with regular, positive

communication Find ways to communicate positive messages Provide personalized messages through home-

school journals Provide parents with practical suggestions Reflect on partnership plan and fine-tune it

Changing Nature of Childhood

Economically disadvantaged children

Children with inadequate supervision

Abused and neglected children At-risk children Hurried children Disengaged children

Changing Nature of Childhood and Youth

Economically Disadvantaged Children Disproportionate number are minority Receive less medical and dental care Live in substandard housing Wear cast-off and torn clothing Lack affordable day care Have fewer educational resources Move frequently All factors interfere with good school performance

Children with Inadequate Supervision Babies in daycare may eventually have

insecure relationships At risk for increased illness Latchkey children:

Twice as likely to be under stress Call themselves risk-takers Have conflict with parents Indicate parents are gone too much Are afraid alone Twice as likely to drink, smoke, and use drugs Seek refuge in libraries

Abused and Neglected Children

Two million children each year Defined as physical or mental injury,

sexual abuse, negligent treatment, or maltreatment of a child under 18 by a person who is responsible for the child’s welfare

All states have laws requiring teachers to report suspect cases

At-Risk Children

Many live in a single-parent home Unsupervised for long periods Low income Parents have low level of education May have limited English proficiency

At-Risk Children cont.

May have siblings who are dropouts Perform poorly in school May repeat a grade Do not expect to graduate

At-Risk Children cont.

Can often be successful if:

They are resilient Had easy temperaments as infants Have a nurturing adult in their lives Have a good reading ability by grade four

Abused or Neglected Children Appear different from others

in physical or emotional makeup

Parents describe them as bad or different

Child is afraid of parents May have bruises, welts,

or sores Given inadequate

food/medications Receive inadequate

supervision Chronically unclean

Exhibit extreme behavior Wary of physical contact

with adults Exhibit a sudden change in

behavior Have an undiagnosed

learning problem Habitually truant and tardy Tired Chronically tired Dressed inappropriately to

cover wounds

Hurried Children

Children who are rushed through childhood

Factors Television Working parents Growing materialism

Disengaged Children

Bored and just going through the motions in school

Factors Negative influence of friends Substance abuse

Signs Reading material unrelated to class Daydreaming Talking with peers Doing work for other classes

The Changing School

Challenge 1: Foster equality

Challenge 2: Achieve World-class

academic standards

Challenge 3: Support families

Challenge 4: Celebrate diversity

Challenge 5: Utilize technology