You may not have thought much about the history of education before taking this class, but you have been a member of the educational community all your life and are about to enter it in a new role: as teachers and administrators of education.  The situations you encounter in classrooms today are the result of decisions, philosophies and intentions of the past that have a direct effect on how you conduct your work – from the way you view children, right down to types of buildings you enter. Use your journal to evaluate or comment on the historical issues raised in this course in the light of your experience as a member of the education community.
    The journal is your tool for thinking.  It is primarily for you – not for me as the instructor.  I want you to use it for two things: keeping track of the readings and responding to questions that I will pose in class.  In your journals, you should provide a brief (1 to 2 paragraph) but thoughtful response to each assigned reading.  Do not simply summarize, but use your journal to think out the implications of the readings and to explore questions they raise for you.  Do not hesitate to disagree with an author you think over-simplifies an issue. On the other hand, if you find yourself agreeing with an author, think about why the article seems accurate.

    You may also find your journal a good place to do some initial thinking about topics for the assigned papers.  Sometimes we write for an audience; sometimes we write to explore our ideas. Often, before we can craft writing suitable for a reader, we need the security of exploring our ideas without fear of someone looking over our shoulder to point out our spelling mistakes or our lack of reason. Sometimes we need the security of trying out dumb ideas or of being perfectly honest, even though we know it sounds stupid or harsh.  The journal is a safe place to develop these ideas.  You may never transform your journal entries into an essay for another reader, but some will point toward that end.
 

    After giving you ample warning, I will collect the journals two or three times during the semester, look through them, and respond to them. I will not accept late journals under any circumstances or for any reason, including absence from class on the day I announce that I am collecting journals.
 

    First, remember to date each entry!  Second, this is a working thought-journal.  You do not need to edit or re-write or even spell-check your work (although the correct usage of the English language is the mark of an intelligent and educated person.  Strive to improve yourself.)
    Personally, I find that the simple act of dragging my hand across a page is the most useful and generates the most creativity.  I type much faster than I can write, and writing by hand forces me to slow down, to focus, and to THINK.  That said, you are welcome to keep your journal either in a composition notebook or on the computer.  The important thing is that you write every single day (ideally) or at least three or four times a week.
 

    The grade you receive for the journal will depend both on your completing the assignment and on the thought you appear to have put into responding to assignments. This is informal writing, and I will not be commenting on or grading spelling, grammar, or style.