public schools

Profiles sixteen schools in the United States that sought to alter their structures and daily practices in order to provide a better education for their students, discussing which reforms worked and which failed, how they implemented new programs, and what the final outcome was for each school.

Vilson, a teacher from an urban school composed of black and poor youth, challenges racism and inequality in the classroom.

"[Relates the story of Ed Boland who,] in a fit of idealism, ... left a twenty-year career as a non-profit executive to teach in a tough New York City public high school. But his hopes quickly collided headlong with the appalling reality of his students' lives and a hobbled education system unable to help them."--Provided by publisher.

"Mark Zuckerberg, Chris Christie, and Cory Booker were ready to reform our failing schools. They got an education. When Mark Zuckerberg announced in front of a cheering Oprah audience his $100 million pledge to transform the Newark Schools -- and to solve the education crisis in every city in America -- it looked like a huge win for then-mayor Cory Booker and governor Chris Christie. But their plans soon ran into a constituency not so easily moved -- Newark's key education players, fiercely protective of their billion-dollar-per-annum system. It's a prize that, for generations, has enriched seemingly everyone, except Newark's students. Expert journalist Dale Russakoff delivers a story of high ideals and hubris, good intentions and greed, celebrity and street smarts -- as reformers face off against entrenched unions, skeptical parents, and bewildered students. The growth of charters forces the hand of Newark's superintendent Cami Anderson, who closes, consolidates, or redesigns more than a third of the city's schools -- a scenario on the horizon for many urban districts across America. Most moving are Russakoff's portraits from inside the district's schools, of home-grown principals and teachers, long stuck in a hopeless system -- and often the only real hope for the children of Newark. The Prize is a portrait of a titanic struggle over the future of education for the poorest kids, and a cautionary tale for those who care about the shape of America's schools. "--.

Presents a collection of essays representing diverse viewpoints on the state of education in America. Topics covered include whether school-choice alternatives are a good idea, whether religion should be part of public education, and how the education system should be improved. Includes a list of additional resources and a list of organizations to contact.

Learn about schools around the world and what kids eat for lunch, when their summer vacation is, and even how long they have to go each day.

The author, who returned to teaching at a rural Vermont public school after fourteen years as a full-time writer, describes the American education system today. He takes readers into the daily life of a teacher, sharing challenges, frustrations, and triumphs; and highlighting the many political, administrative, economic, social, and technological obstacles teachers face every day.

John Owens shares his experiences as a teacher working with struggling students, discussing how he found himself mired in a broken educational system, and offering tips for improving public schools.