Comprehensive Exam

Part 1: Educational Leadership Specialization

Based upon your understanding of teaching and learning theory and other foundational education knowledge bases and scholarship, how do these philosophical groundings assist you in responding to the case scenario?

There are learning theories which could be explicit or implicit that plays a role in making choices in teaching. The learning theory is adaptable to the new ways of teaching that are established through changes in the trend. The major method to understand this trend is through moving away from the behaviorist model to a cognitive view of learning ( Center For Teaching Excellence, 2002). Further, knowledge of the educational processes matters and it can be assumed that teaching extra stuff should not be important since students can get all information from Google. Today, the knowledge criteria in the educational institutions have deteriorated as less emphasis is being done on them. As there is greater emergence of the middle schools it is important to realize that shared knowledge of history, science and other subjects will make a greater equalizer in their studies and will help gain academic excellence.

School districts in many parts of the United States are trying to make a connection between the decision of whether they should switch from junior high school system to a middle school setup or not. The organization of information regarding to processes and procedures seriously lack and this paper will serve as a guide for the new principal to make a smooth transition from junior to middle without any major disruptions. The important aspects to consider are that it is different from acquiring an existing organization which requires planning of staff, materials, facilities and leadership hierarchy (Raebeck, 2010). The changing from junior to middle needs a lot of care. There is the importance of necessary training and re-training of personnel which requires time and thorough planning. This is best done through on the job locations during the evolving middle school. Further, the idea is to make a school which is more appropriate for pre-adolescent (Raebeck, 2010). This person should be someone who is other than the principal. He can be a consultant who knows what he is doing and make a successful transition.

In the year 1888, a university professor at Harvard University started a first time effort to reorganize primary and secondary school structures. At that time, the school laws were very strict and attendance was compulsory with laws governing them in 8 years of elementary and four years of high school education. However, it was argued on secondary school studies by the National Education Association that the last ten years of elementary school was a waste of time and there should be courses of algebra and Latin that should be introduced from an early age. This committee recommended lessening elementary schools till six grades (1-6) and increase of the secondary grade from 7 till 12. They also suggested that children who showed talent must be promoted fast and they can complete secondary school within four years of ...