Teaching, Learning, and Schooling in Social Contexts

All acts of teaching, learning, and schooling are largely determined by social contexts. The social context of the school is remarkably homogeneous, even across nations. The social contexts of family, neighborhoods, and social networks are diverse, largely determined by culture membership, social class, race, and ethnicity. The social contexts of both schools and cultures are strong and tend toward self-perpetuation. When the two meet, their values, expectations, and beliefs are often at odds. In a society aspiring toward excellence, fairness, inclusion, and harmony for all, accommodations are necessary.