| Description |
xi, 196 pages ; 23 cm |
| Bibliography |
Includes bibliographical references. |
| Summary |
The author delivers the statistics and skillful analysis needed to win the numbers game that plays out daily in the popular press. Drawing on data from a variety of reputable sources, he proves that public schools are doing much better than critics claim, some indicators even showing record highs. He takes on the testing movement in numerous chapters offers data that provide different perspectives than usually seen, and reviews the history of public schools, showing how they have included more and more students while raising achievement levels, too. He questions the so-called failing schools, discusses the phenomenon of "summer loss," provides international comparisons, and presents data to argue that investing in universal quality preschool pays off in the long run. He even attempts to enter the mind of the father of American public education, Horace Mann, to see what he might think about the "nuttiness of today's policies." |
| Contents |
pt. I. Debunking Dumb Policies -- 1. The No Child Left Behind Act, a Plan for the Destruction of Public Education: Just Say No -- 2. A Surefire Way to Destroy America: Test Every Kid Every Year -- 3. The Governors' Debacle: The High-Stakes Testing Movement -- 4. Failing Children -- Twice -- 5. Kindergarten Is Too Late -- 6. Testing Flunks Life -- 7. The Malevolent Tyranny of Algebra -- 8. Schools Should Not Prepare Students for the World of Work -- 9. Poverty Issues Get Short Shrift -- 10. April Foolishness: "A Nation At Risk" at Twenty -- pt. II. But What Does It All Mean? -- 11. What If "Falling Schools" Aren't? Or, What I Did Last Summer -- 12. Getting Dumber in School? |
| Subject |
Public schools -- United States.
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Education and state -- United States.
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Education -- United States -- Evaluation.
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Education and state. (OCoLC)fst00902835
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Education -- Evaluation. (OCoLC)fst00902624
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Public schools. (OCoLC)fst01082942
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United States. (OCoLC)fst01204155
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Schulpolitik (DE-588)4053532-0
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Öffentliche Schule (DE-588)4115434-4
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Éducation.
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Enseignement public.
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Évaluation pédagogique.
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Politique éducative.
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Réforme pédagogique.
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Réforme du système éducatif.
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Système éducatif.
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United States.
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United States.
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| Other Form: |
Online version: Bracey, Gerald W. (Gerald Watkins). On the death of childhood and the destruction of public schools. Portsmouth, NH : Heinemann, ©2003 (OCoLC)607680849 |
| ISBN |
0325006024 (alk. paper) |
|
9780325006024 (alk. paper) |
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