Dueling dispositions.

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Dueling dispositions.

• Michael D. Miller
• Assistant Professor, Teacher Education
• COURSES
• Educational Psychology for Middle and Secondary
  Educators TED 212
• Technology Integration and the Reflective
  Multimedia Portfolio for Elementary Educators
  TED 155

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Why Dispositions?

• Dispositions. The values, commitments, and
  professional ethics that influence behaviors
  toward students, families, colleagues, and
  communities and affect student learning,
  motivation, and development as well as the
  educators own professional growth. Dispositions
  are guided by beliefs and attitudes related to
  values such as caring, fairness, honesty,
  responsibility, and social justice.
• NCATE

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Dispositions towards dispositions

• Re teacher training programs - the facultys
  ideological imbalance has allowed three factors
• a new accreditation policy,
• changes in how students are evaluated
• A curricular orientation around a theme of
  social justice to impose a de facto political
  litmus test on the next cohort of public school
  teachers.
• Johnson, K.C. (2005, May 23). Disposition for
  Bias. Inside Higher Education. Retrieved 11/13/06
  from http//www.insidehighered.com/views/2005/05/2
  3/johnson

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Dispositions towards dispositions

• It is not acceptable to assess particular
  attitudes and beliefs related to social/political
  ideologies. For example, a candidates belief
  systems regarding economic redistribution, the
  politics of multi-culturalism, the implications
  of religious faith and its expression, whom we
  should vote for in the next election, or even
  whether all our national wildernesses should be
  turned into golf courses, are none of an
  assessors business.
• Damon, W., K.C. (2005, September 8). Personality
  Test The dispositional dispute in teacher
  preparation today, and what to do about it.
  Thomas B. Fordham Foundation. Retrieved 11/13/06
  from http//www.edexcellence.net/foundation/public
  ation/publication.cfm?id343

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Dispositions towards dispositions

• NCATE vehemently denies that it is imposing
  groupthink, but the ed schools, essentially a
  liberal monoculture, use dispositions theory to
  require support for diversity and a culturally
  left agenda, including opposition to what the
  schools sometimes call "institutional racism,
  classism, and heterosexism.
• Leo, J. (2005, October 24). Class(room)
  Warriors. U.S. News and World Report. Retrieved
  11/13/06 from http//www.usnews.com/usnews/opinion
  /articles/051024/24john.htm

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Dispositions towards dispositions

• Regarding that last, the Chronicle reports that
  the University of Alabama's College of Education
  proclaims itself "committed to preparing
  individuals to"what? "Read, write and reason"?
  No, "to promote social justice, to be change
  agents, and to recognize individual and
  institutionalized racism, sexism, homophobia, and
  classism"
• Will, G.F. (2006, January 16). Ed Schools vs.
  Education Prospective teaches are expected to
  have the correct disposition, proof of which is
  espousing progressive political beliefs.
  Newsweek. Retrieved 11/13/06 from
  http//www.msnbc.msn.com/id/10753446/site/newsweek
  /

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Dispositions debate evolves

• Request for Papers
• Journal of Educational Controversy December, 2006
• Journal of Teacher Education June, 2007

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An opportunity to research dispositions arises

• Gear Up / Get Ready Program
• Early college / post secondary awareness -
  supported by Wilder Research Data
• Focuses on access to and success in post
  secondary education environments
• Key components include academics, financial
  planning, family education

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Spring, 2006 - Inaugural Field Trip

• Designed and implemented by 27 PSTs enrolled in
  in Ed Psych for Middle and Secondary Educators.
• Attended by 70 SPSS, Gear Up/Get Ready students
• Favorable results

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SPSS Testimonials

• I liked talking with college kids
• Loved the games
• Liked the (UWRF) student panels
• Getting a t-shirt
• Riding the bus to Wisconsin
• All the things we did
• Wanted more time there spend the night?
• Can we do a science experiment next time?

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UWRF student testimonials

• I learned more on this day than in my 25 hours of
  observing
• I was nervous because it was going to be a new
  surrounding for me
• Many (middle school) students, said they had no
  one in their lives they could trust thats
  going to stick with me for a long time.
• Being able to go from generating ideas in class
  to delivering them to a group was really
  beneficial.
• These students really opened my eyes

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We know things are happening.

• Middle school student dispositions about post
  secondary education are being created, adjusted
  or enhanced.
• PST dispositions about - teaching in general,
  working with middle school students, and working
  in diverse, urban environments, are being
  created, adjusted, or enhanced.

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Dueling dispositions.

• A study of middle school student attitudes
  towards post secondary education
• A study of pre-service teacher attitudes towards
  students from a diverse, urban middle school.

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Pre During Post Questions

• Middle school Students
• What interests or skills do you have now that you
  think could become jobs later on?
• In six years youll be done with high school.
  What can you do during the next six years to stay
  focused on a post secondary education?
• What do you think college life is like?
• Academically
• Socially
• Financially

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Pre During Post Questions

• Pre-service teachers
• Again, we know things are happening
• PST dispositions about teaching, working with
  middle school students, working in a diverse,
  urban environment are being created, adjusted, or
  enhanced.

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