Name: Matthew Goad
Title of Project: What's Wrong With School?: A Critique on Public School Culture in America
Title of Research Paper: A Right to Know: A Legal Analysis of Education Censorship
Synopsis of Research Paper:
My research paper is a legal analysis of education censorship and covers related issues such as academic freedom, intellectual liberty, and the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. While education censorship is an issue that is not limited to the United States school systems, this paper is primarily concerned with the issue as it relates to the education systems in the said country. Questions that have guided the research presented in this paper are as follows: What constitutes “censorship,” what are the potential dangers involved, and how does censorship affect teachers and students?
Project Description:
My research paper is on education censorship. However, for my project, I decided to further my research into more diverse issues within the United States education system. For my senior project, I prepared a presentation in which I discussed issues such as standardized testing, the No Child Left Behind Act, and Common Core. I also discussed problems with student conditioning. In my presentation, I also shared my ideas in a proposal of the ways in which I believe education should be reformed. The main part of my event, however, was allowing students to participate in an intellectual discussion where they were encouraged to give voice to their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with school. The purpose of this was to provide students with an opportunity to have a say in their education, which is something, I truly believe, isn't encouraged as much as it should be.
Relationship between Project and Paper:
For my senior research paper, I had only given focus to the issue of censorship in education. After writing my paper, however, and after multiple meetings with my senior project consultant, I was inspired to research the education system in more depth. I began researching issues in the education system that ranged from standardized testing to the cultural perspective on the education system itself. I even went so far as reading on educational theory, eventually formulating my own ideas on education, which is till in development and I believe will continue to be for a long time. I was mainly inspired by critical pedagogy and the work of Paulo Freire.
My background experience in the area:
My experiences as a student for 12 years in the Virginia Beach Public School System is credible, however the full of my background experience does not stop there. I have always been interested in history, sociology and philosophy and I have been reading on these subjects for as long as I can remember. My knowledge of these subjects, though not nearly, yet, on the level of expertise, had a lot of influence in my choosing of education as a topic for my senior paper and project.
Special things I'd like judges to consider and look for:
This paper and project have allowed me to grow in ways I never thought were possible. I hope that the judges will consider how much I have developed in ways such as increased social awareness, highly improved public speaking and social interaction skills, and time management ability. Perhaps most importantly, I hope the judges will be delighted to hear that my experience in writing my paper, completing my project, and working with my consultant (an expert on education), has inspired me to dedicate my life to pursuing education reform.
Title of Project: What's Wrong With School?: A Critique on Public School Culture in America
Title of Research Paper: A Right to Know: A Legal Analysis of Education Censorship
Synopsis of Research Paper:
My research paper is a legal analysis of education censorship and covers related issues such as academic freedom, intellectual liberty, and the rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. While education censorship is an issue that is not limited to the United States school systems, this paper is primarily concerned with the issue as it relates to the education systems in the said country. Questions that have guided the research presented in this paper are as follows: What constitutes “censorship,” what are the potential dangers involved, and how does censorship affect teachers and students?
Project Description:
My research paper is on education censorship. However, for my project, I decided to further my research into more diverse issues within the United States education system. For my senior project, I prepared a presentation in which I discussed issues such as standardized testing, the No Child Left Behind Act, and Common Core. I also discussed problems with student conditioning. In my presentation, I also shared my ideas in a proposal of the ways in which I believe education should be reformed. The main part of my event, however, was allowing students to participate in an intellectual discussion where they were encouraged to give voice to their thoughts, ideas, and experiences with school. The purpose of this was to provide students with an opportunity to have a say in their education, which is something, I truly believe, isn't encouraged as much as it should be.
Relationship between Project and Paper:
For my senior research paper, I had only given focus to the issue of censorship in education. After writing my paper, however, and after multiple meetings with my senior project consultant, I was inspired to research the education system in more depth. I began researching issues in the education system that ranged from standardized testing to the cultural perspective on the education system itself. I even went so far as reading on educational theory, eventually formulating my own ideas on education, which is till in development and I believe will continue to be for a long time. I was mainly inspired by critical pedagogy and the work of Paulo Freire.
My background experience in the area:
My experiences as a student for 12 years in the Virginia Beach Public School System is credible, however the full of my background experience does not stop there. I have always been interested in history, sociology and philosophy and I have been reading on these subjects for as long as I can remember. My knowledge of these subjects, though not nearly, yet, on the level of expertise, had a lot of influence in my choosing of education as a topic for my senior paper and project.
Special things I'd like judges to consider and look for:
This paper and project have allowed me to grow in ways I never thought were possible. I hope that the judges will consider how much I have developed in ways such as increased social awareness, highly improved public speaking and social interaction skills, and time management ability. Perhaps most importantly, I hope the judges will be delighted to hear that my experience in writing my paper, completing my project, and working with my consultant (an expert on education), has inspired me to dedicate my life to pursuing education reform.