Description
Book SynopsisIn this insightful analysis of public school policy, including No Child Left Behind, William E. Smith offers a unique perspective—he has taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels; served in several administrative roles, including principal of an impoverished, rural K-5 school and a K-12 laboratory school; and been a teacher educator and educational scholar, before returning to the classroom. In Restoring Honor to Public Schools: A Teacher's Vision for American Education, Smith draws upon thirty years of experience in varied roles to provide an insider's look at teaching and learning. With clear and uncompromising analysis, he assesses the real impact of politics and educational policymaking on our children's lives. Smith provides thoughtful and achievable recommendations for honoring teachers and teaching and restoring civility and intelligence to our nation's discourse about education.
Trade ReviewSmith vividly demonstrates with a combination of research and personal anecdotes from thirty years in education that NCLB is having profound consequences on the entire educational system in the United States that will affect—and should concern—every citizen. This book is an in-depth conversation with an experienced, intelligent, passionate, observant, and dedicated teacher who is worried about the future of education in America. Part memoir of thirty years teaching, part analysis of the educational system, and part call to arms, Restoring Honor to Public Schools should interest, intrigue, and inform a wide variety of Americans, from parents and teachers to politicians and journalists—or anyone interested in the education of our children. -- Andrew Slap, assistant professor of history, East Tennessee State University
From the opening vignette in an historic one-room schoolhouse to the concluding final thoughts, Restoring Honor to Public Schools provides a message of hope. William Smith seeks to open a dialogue that honors, respects, recognizes and holds in esteem all the good that public schools have done and continue to do in our democracy. -- Cathleen D. Rafferty, professor and director of the Center for Educational Excellence, Collaboration, and Inquiry at Humboldt State University
William Smith gives voice to the most pressing issues confronting our public schools. There were times that I literally stood up and cheered as I read Restoring Honor to Public Schools. Though the book does not resort to sentimental or emotional ploys, I often found myself emotionally charged as a veteran educator who has lived through many of the significant issues presented in this book. William Smith gives honor to public schools and to those of us who dedicate our lives to public education; butmost importantly, he gives honor to the children we serve... -- Keith Hertzog, National Board and Tennessee Career Ladder III Certified teacher, and former president of the Johnson City Education Association
In this examination of educational politics and policy, Smith provides an insider's look at public schools by drawing on his experiences as a teacher, administrator, and teacher educator. * Bristol Herald Courier, July 19, 2009 *
The author provides crucial knowledge that every parent needs to be aware of in order to make informed decisions on their children’s education and the policy that shapes it. Numerous anecdotes provide clear illustrations that parents can identify with and learn from. Restoring Honor to Public Schoolsgives parents a description of the culture of teaching and the unique value system of teachers. This value system and the teacher accountability it champions is the key to success in the classroom. Smith eloquently makes the case for restoring honor to American education, and with this book, he takes his readers the first step in that direction. -- Julia Swanson
William Smith gives voice to the most pressing issues confronting our public schools. There were times that I literally stood up and cheered as I read Restoring Honor to Public Schools. Though the book does not resort to sentimental or emotional ploys, I often found myself emotionally charged as a veteran educator who has lived through many of the significant issues presented in this book. William Smith gives honor to public schools and to those of us who dedicate our lives to public education; but most importantly, he gives honor to the children we serve. -- Keith Hertzog, National Board and Tennessee Career Ladder III Certified teacher, and former president of the Johnson City Education Association
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Introduction Part 2 The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: The Reality, the Image, and the Discrediting of America's Public Schools Chapter 3 Learning to Honor Education: A Lesson from Akina Chapter 4 The Good News about America's Schools Chapter 5 How Politicians and Journalists Shape Public Perceptions of Schools Chapter 6 The Consequences of Misrepresenting Public School Quality Part 7 Illusions, Misguided Notions, and Questionable Intentions: How Educational Policymaking Has Gone Wrong Chapter 8 High Stakes Accountability Measures and Illusions of Quality Chapter 9 A Tale of Two Teachers: The Passionate Professional and the Dispirited Functionary Chapter 10 The No Child Left Behind Act: Illusion and Reality Chapter 11 The Truth about the Children Left Behind Chapter 12 The NAEP and International Assessments: Education's Catch-22 Chapter 13 The Political Process of Educational Reform: How Parents, Educators, and Children Get Left Behind Chapter 14 Why Nostalgia Is a Poor Basis for Educational Policy Chapter 15 The Shortcomings of Common Sense as a Basis for Educational Policy Part 16 Honoring Teachers and the Process of Educational Change: Making a Commitment to Sound Principles Chapter 17 Honoring Teachers and Teaching Chapter 18 Elevating Our Nation's Public Discourse about Education Chapter 19 Afterword
