Full Description
Here is a fresh, common-sense take on education reform, not by an educator or administrator or politico, but by a concerned mother and citizen who dares to proclaim that America is NOT offering a quality education to ALL its children. Young sees an effective public education system as a fundamental function of a strong republic. Yet opposing political agendas are directing federal, state, and local lawmakers toward failed programs, wasted dollars, and poor results for American public education. In The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present, Young presents important insights into what can be done to "fix" America's public education system. Her research and observations are eye opening and provide all readers with a galvanizing focus on what needs to be done and how to get there. But most importantly, the book energizes parents with new ideas and tools to improve the schools in their own communities. The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and Present is a call to the public education system to openly listen and to communities to make themselves heard.
Contents
Foreword By Gary Ratner
Preface
Acknowledgments
Chapter 1: Safe and Disciplined Schools; Civility Lost on Our Own Turf
Chapter 2: The Three R's, plus the "R Rule"
Chapter 3: Where's the Science? Using What We Know
Chapter 4: Along Came "No Child Left Behind"; With Unintended or Foreseeable Consequences?
Chapter 5: What is the Problem? Why Children Get Left Behind
Chapter 6: We Have the Answers
Chapter 7: Formula for Success; Simple, Not Easy
Chapter 8: What's Next? Starting In the Trenches
Chapter 9: The Road to Educational Quality and Equality: A Story with No Ending
Chapter 10: Democracy and Education: The Powerful Will Drive Progress
Reflections: Finish the Fight
Bibliography
Addendum1: A National Approach to Effective Schools
Addendum 2: Establishing Balanced Curriculum in our Classrooms
Addendum 3: Noteworthy People
Index
About the Author
