Description
Book SynopsisBarriers to Excellence: The Changes Needed for Our Schools brings a new and different viewpoint to our educational problems in the United States. The reasons behind the academic decline we have seen over the last several decades, the continued inequity in our schools, and the frustration with inconsistent and inadequate policies, procedures and support will be addressed in this eye-opening book. Barriers to Excellence discuses the obstacles we face to regain our academic distinction. We need to look at the bigger picture when it comes to attaining educational excellence in the United States.
Trade ReviewThere is an emerging story in America about education and justice that many are willing to tell and some extraordinary few, like Betsy Gunzelmann, are able to document. The book may be appear thin, but the argument is rich, intriguingly researched, and painfully powerful. Barriers to Excellence is really a story of contemporary America. It should be widely read, here and abroad, but what is that expression: Read it and weep. -- Thomas J. Cottle
"Thanks Betsy Gunzelmann for writing Barriers to Excellence. We needed this to wake us up and plan together how to respond." -- Deborah Meier, senior scholar at New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education and MacArthur Award-winning founder of the Central Park East School in East Harlem and the Mission Hill School in Boston
Table of ContentsPart I: Our Broken System: Understanding Barriers to Excellence Chapter One: There Is Trouble in Our Schools: A Historical Overview of Barriers & Imbalance Chapter Two: Rescuing Our Schools: Perspectives of Leaders, Reformers and Entrepreneurs Chapter Three: The Gathering of Data from Many Directions Part II: The Barriers to Excellence Chapter Four: Society& Cultural: First, Most Complex and Controversial of the Barriers to Excellence Chapter Five: Political Barriers to Excellence: Multifaceted and Difficult, but Not Impossible to Resolve Chapter Six: Economic Barriers to Excellence Chapter Seven: Psychological Barriers to Educational Excellence Chapter Eight:EducationalIssues: Process& Logistical Barriers Part III:Towards Educational Excellence and Beyond Chapter Nine: Breaking Down the Barriers & Restoring Balance Chapter Ten: Education: Our Key to Future Success References
