Impromptu - General Theme: Education (Revised 11/6/10)
1. Four Centuries of American Education. For four centuries, religion, morality, and knowledge formed the core elements of American education, but in recent decades, a secularized approach to education has gained prominence. Discuss the effects of both religious and secular philosophies and present stories of early American heroes in the field of education. www.wallbuilders.com/store/product112.html
2. Education and the Founding Fathers. Examine our Founders' educational system and the schools and textbooks that made America great. www.wallbuilders.com/store/product71.html
3.
The decline and fall of private education. Is it merely coincidental that the private
choice of homeschooling was outlawed by the Soviet State in 1919, by Hitler and
Nazi Germany in 1938, and by communist China in 1949?
http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=96204
4. Parental choice of schools – tax credits, vouchers, private scholarships. http://www.educatenm.org/
a) Strengthening American education by returning authority to the states and empowering parents with the opportunity to choose a safe and effective school for their child. http://www.heritage.org/LeadershipForAmerica/education.cfm
5. What is the current state of American education – public, private, and homeschool?
a) Wallbuilder Report, The Current State of American Education, http://www.wallbuilders.com/store/product121.html
i) current philosphy of education
ii) curricular content
iii) competency of teachers
b) The Condition of Education 2009 in Brief, http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009082
c) The Condition of Education 2009, http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2009081
d) NM education stats, http://www.statemaster.com/state/NM-new-mexico/edu-education
6. How does the philosophy of “Separation of Church and State” affect public education?
7. Describe the difficulties and opportunities of “keeping the faith” in public schools. http://www.gtbe.org
8. Discuss issues of education reform. http://www.edreform.com
a) Charter schools
b) School choice
c) Curriculum
d) Standards & accountability
e) ABCs of teaching
9. What is “Christian” education? http://www.homeschools.org/worldview/philosophyOfChristianEducation.html
10. How have “Boy Scouts” contributed to American education? http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Boy_Scout
Scouting organizations are run according to the Scout method, which is designed to instill character, citizenship, leadership, and personal fitness through a structured program of outdoor activities. The Scout motto "Be Prepared" is famous throughout the world, and millions of young people have benefited from the training, learning to become individuals of integrity able to work and relate well with others. Baden-Powell held the view that God was central to the Scouting method. He also added innovative educational principles (the Scout method).
The Scout method is a progressive system designed to achieve these goals, comprising four elements: