Christian Education and Vocation Quiz

Christian Educator Virtues

• Nine virtues guide Christian educators: Faith, Hope, Charity, Prudence, Justice, Fortitude, Temperance, Humility, and Zeal.
• Faith involves deep trust in God and the Christian mission of education.
• Hope encourages student aspiration for growth, both personal and spiritual.
• Charity involves loving and caring for all students, regardless of background.
• Prudence guides wise decisions for student benefit.
• Justice ensures equitable treatment and fosters fairness among students.
• Fortitude encompasses courage and perseverance in challenging circumstances.
• Temperance promotes self-control and balance in educational practice.
• Humility acknowledges personal limitations and respects student dignity.
• Zeal expresses passionate dedication to fostering student growth and learning.

Vocation Definition

• A vocation is a divinely appointed calling to serve others, involving personal sacrifice and dedication.
• For educators, it's a moral commitment to shaping student minds and hearts.

Common School Era

• The mid-19th century saw the rise of universal, free, and non-sectarian education in the US.
• Reformers like Horace Mann pushed for public funding for schools for all children, including those of all social backgrounds.

Catholics vs. Protestants (Common School Era)

• Curriculum conflicts arose between Catholics and Protestants in public schools.
• Protestant-dominated curricula included mandatory Bible readings and prayers, sparking Catholic opposition.
• Catholics sought separate schools to preserve their faith and teachings.

Thomas Jefferson

• He believed in public education as critical for a democratic society.
• He proposed public elementary schools for all children to receive fundamental education.

Catherine Beecher

• Beecher promoted women's education and teacher training.
• She saw teaching as a moral vocation for women, emphasizing nurturing and education.

John Dewey

• Dewey is considered the father of progressive education.
• He championed experiential learning, critical thinking, and learner-centered teaching.

Gary Schools

• Implemented a "work-study-play" model, integrating academic, vocational, and recreational activities.
• Led by Superintendent William Wirt, this model was implemented in Gary, Indiana.

New York African Free Schools

• Founded in the 19th century to educate free Black children.
• Prioritized academic rigor and moral development, aiming to prepare students for leadership.

Immigration's Impact on Public Education

• Immigration waves in the late 19th and early 20th centuries created challenges for assimilation.
• "Americanization" movements focused on English instruction and American values.

Stanford-Binet Test

• A cognitive ability test used to assess students, which generated discussion about cultural biases and equity.

World War I & II's Impact

• WWI: Schools focused on patriotism and citizenship, introducing military training.
• WWII: Increased focus on science and technology education for war effort support. Federal funding increased.

Cold War's Impact

• The space race and Soviet competition led to a significant increase in STEM education.
• The National Defense Education Act (1958) was created to boost math and science programs.

Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA)

• Was part of Lyndon B. Johnson's War on Poverty, passed in 1965.
• Aimed to reduce achievement gaps by providing federal funding for schools in low-income areas.

Civil Rights Act of 1964

• Prohibited segregation and discrimination in schools, federally funded programs, & education.
• Guaranteed equal educational opportunities for all, regardless of race or ethnicity.

Title IX

• Passed in 1972.
• Banned discrimination on basis of sex in educational programs and opportunities.

Little Rock Nine

• Nine Black students who integrated Little Rock Central High School in 1957.
• Their struggle for desegregation was significant.

Brown vs. Board of Education

• (1954): The Supreme Court ruled against racial segregation in public schools.
• Overturned the "separate but equal" doctrine.

A Nation at Risk Report

• (1983): Highlighting the decline in American educational standards.
• Called for reform to improve academic performance and global competitiveness.

School Choice Movement

• Supports parental choice of school environments (public, private, charter, or voucher schools).
• Aims for better educational quality through competition and individual learning.

Common Core State Standards

• Standardized academic expectations across states.
• Emphasizes critical thinking and analytical skills in math and English language arts.

Six Learning Philosophies

• Perennialism: Focuses on enduring ideas and universal truths.
• Essentialism: Highlights core knowledge and skills.
• Progressivism: Supports experiential, learner-focused education.
• Reconstructionism: Seeks to resolve social issues through education.
• Constructivism: Emphasizes knowledge construction by active learning.
• Behaviorism: Focuses on observable behavior and reinforcement.

Progressive vs. Traditionalist Approaches

• Progressive: Inquiry-based learning, student-centered, creativity focus.
• Traditional: Teacher-led instruction, standardized testing, rote memorization.
• Differing emphases in Math, Science, ELA, and Social studies.

Constructivism

• A learning theory emphasizing active knowledge construction.
• Teachers guide learning through meaningful problems and explorations, focusing on fostering critical thinking and collaboration.

Explore the key virtues that guide Christian educators, as well as the historical context of public education in the US. This quiz also addresses the conflict between Catholic and Protestant curriculum during the Common School Era. Test your knowledge on the intersection of faith and education.