14001 Choice in Education: Schools and Alternative Processes 1
Credits: 4 graduate credits in Education: Technologies and Learning Systems or in Democracy Studies / History, Education and Citizenship or in Educational Administration, Policy and Leadership
Prerequisites for Education: Admission to the graduate program in Education: Technologies and Learning Systems or in Educational Administration, Policy and Leadership
Prerequisites for Democracy Studies: Democracy: An Interdisciplinary Approach, Israeli Democracy: Selected Issues, Contemporary Democratic Theories; Education Policy: Education for Democracy in Democratic Societies
The course is based on a reader edited by Ronit Bogler.
The course focuses on the educational, social and political aspects of choice in education. It presents the alternative types of schools available to parents and their children and describes the common and distinguishing characteristics of the various types of schools. The course also discusses possible developments of the phenomenon of choice in education. As choice in education is a relatively recent concept, the scope of empirical research conducted in this area is limited. Based on developments in Israel and abroad, the course delineates potential trends related to the expansion or the narrowing of the phenomenon and changes in its practical implementation.
Topics: School choice – conceptualization, historical development and comparative perspective; Alternative types of schools; Choice in education from the perspective of parents, pupils, teachers and principals; Educational, social and political considerations in choosing a school; Future trends related to the phenomenon of choice in education.
1Students may write a seminar paper in this course only in the framework of studies toward a Master's degree in Democracy Studies, in the Education and Citizenship specialization.