Education Under Siege

Frauds, Fads, Fantasies and Fictions in Educational Reform

By (author) Arthur Shapiro University of South Florida

Publication date:

29 October 2013

Length of book:

206 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

Dimensions:

240x157mm
6x9"

ISBN-13: 9781475803075

We Americans seem prone to bandwagon onto fads, particularly now that reforming education has become a national priority. Unfortunately, many of those fads now caroming across our continent are outright frauds; some are fantasies, even fictions. Even more unfortunately, many are undermining our public schools, teachers, kids and communities, and pillaging our tax dollars in the process.
This book analyzes each major reform--No Child Left Behind, Common Core State Standards, grading schools, evaluating teachers, failing students, vouchers, charters, online virtual charters-- and finds them seriously wanting. We conclude with reforms that work actually helping teachers, kids, parents and communities.

Few can find the contradictions and holes in the current educational scene like Arthur Shaprio who brings his razor sharp wit and lie detector insights to our age. One does not have to agree with him on every point to be exposed to more sides of an issue than one had before. Readers up to the challenge will find this book a good read and very useful.