Description
Book SynopsisPublic schools have been placed in a straitjacket over the past 30 years through overregulation as a result of the growing power of the federal government over public education, expanding court decisions, state government legislation, school board policies and procedures, and the media's influence on public opinion. The straitjacket of centralized control and coercive approaches to the problems that public education is facing is not the solution, but actually is part of the problem. And where achievement is lower than desired this book brings attention to the root cause lack of student preparation so that more resources can be put into catching these kids up, rather than into more tests, more curriculum development, and more administrative staff needed to comply with all of this complexity and growing regulations. We must break out of our straitjacket and give schools more flexibility in finding creative and innovative ways to address the needs of students, changing times, and profe
Trade ReviewHow do we create schools that are hotbeds of creativity and innovation? George Goens and Phil Streifer have gone far beyond the surface rhetoric of school reform and have shown what truly motivates students and staff to think and learn and create. Let’s heed their call that our current educational trajectory is off course and squandering our potential. This is a critically important work for anyone passionate about the future of public education and our nation. -- Mary Broderick, past president, National School Boards Association
George Goens and Phil Streifer emphasize the need to realign the role of the federal government in public education and increase decision-making authority on the local level. A push in this direction will foster independent thinking in school buildings, generating positive cultures of learning in our communities. This can only result in greater student outcomes in our classrooms. -- Dan Domenech, Executive director, American Association of School Administrators
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction Chapter 1. Straitjacket Chapter 2. The Context for Schools and the Expanding Federal Role Chapter 3. The Narrowing Corridor – Why Deregulate? Chapter 4. The Growing Impact of Regulation on Public Schools Chapter 5. The Truth About Achievement and the Preparation Gap Chapter 6. Context, Complexity, and ‘Complicatedness’ Chapter 7. Unshackling Creativity and Innovation Chapter 8. Culture Matters Chapter 9. So What Does This All Mean? Chapter 10. Eight Rules To Guide Real Reform of American Public Education Appendix A. Mandates Appendix B. Fast Facts
