The time has come to focus on teaching and learning that all American students deserve. Quality instruction that engages all students with thinking skills that create successful intelligence for the future of all students is offered throughout traditional public education in the US. But, an adult-centered perspective about schooling-free market theory-stands in the way of sustaining and improving the comprehensive teaching and learning offered by traditional public education. Traditional public education in the US is under attack. This book details the effects of this assault by the proponents of free market schooling and uses data-based research to fend off the attack. Key aspects of traditional public education that benefit all of America's students are compared with the adult-centric, exclusionary, intentions of choice schooling or privatization. The critical importance of traditional public education to the future of US democracy is explored. A primary purpose of traditional public education-how to think-and examples of quality day-to-day instruction are shared. On behalf of all US students, this book develops concepts including points of practice, function, and mediated identity. The value of comprehensive traditional public education deserves a vigorous defense and this book is written to provide it.
Industry Reviews
I strongly recommend this book to anyone who wants to learn about the coordinated attack on public education, the Big Money that funds this attack, and the reasons that everyone should unite to defend our democratic public schools against privatization. -- Diane Ravitch, former assistant secretary of education; author of The Death and Life of the Great American School System
Authors Jeff Swensson, John Ellis, and Michael Shaffer have written a tour de force that describes the struggle between free market schooling (choice education/privatization) and comprehensive traditional public education as these two perspectives vie for funding, enrollment, and the allegiance of policymakers. As they describe the perils facing public education, the authors offer recommendations to fend off free market schooling via continuous improvement of both policies and instruction that affect traditional public education. -- Phyllis Bush, Co-Founder, North East Indiana Friends of Public Education
As a superintendent, I had the opportunity and good fortune to work with both Don Lifto and Barb Nicol on school tax election initiatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin, all of which passed. Gaining community support for these important initiatives directly benefited students and public education, providing essential resources to address critical funding needs for operations, technology and bricks and mortar. Planning and executing a successful school tax election is one of the most complex and difficult leadership challenges of a superintendent, requiring a comprehensive plan anchored in research, sustained engagement and solid execution. The authors have honed their individual and collective expertise through decades of providing quality consultation to school districts. The 3rd edition of this book provides a comprehensive and effective framework for this important work. -- Stan Mack, Ph.D., retired superintendent and educational consultant, Fridley, MN
