Description
Book SynopsisRecommendations for improving America's schools arrive from all arenas and spectators including, business leaders, community members, school faculty, administrators, and parents. While many of the proposals are sound and offered with good intentions, few, if any, are given or implemented with student input. Although there is a tremendous amount of research documenting students' achievement, behavior, culture, and dropout rates, very little information comes from students' own point of view. What would students say about their schools, curriculum, administrators, and teachers if given the chance, without repercussions? In this era of accountability and the demise of "good education", their answers are more than pertinent. Thirteen Years of School gives those in grades K-12, the opportunity to tell us—the public, parents, and school personnel—what going to school is like for them and their peers. In this book, author Lisa Scherff has allowed students-within 16 different states and 32 cities-from a wide range of backgrounds and geographic locations, to submit stories, letters, editorials, and art representing their viewpoints concerning American schools. The topics addressed are: · Stress · Future goals · Favorite teachers · Harassment · Homophobia Full of humor, heartbreak, and hope, this is a must-read for anyone who wants to make schools better for all students.
Trade Review[Scherff] presents a representative collection of [students'] submissions, grouped thematically into chapters covering Eisner's five aspects of schooling, stress at school, what the students have learned so far, what they envision for themselves in the future, positive experiences, and missed opportunities. * Reference and Research Book News *
Finally someone recognizes the irony surrounding extensive research that deals with education and schools but lacks the input of their main user, the student. Whether or not students and their opinions are considered a 'valid' cohort for research on education and school reform, the insight that can be gleaned from these frank writings will be useful to anyone in the educational field. * VOYA *
Recommended. * CHOICE *
Thirteen Years of School honors the voices of the very people the educational system should serve, the students. It offers insight into their opinions of school. Students share what they think is going well, but most of the submissions address what they would like to see changed or improved. Voice that are typically not heard or even asked to speak are the main focus of this book. These voices are the ones that our educational system should listen to carefully. * Teacher Leaders Network *
The author offers commentary at the beginning of each section, but the students' words speak for themselves. * Youth Today *
Table of ContentsPart 1 Preface Part 2 Acknowledgments Part 3 Introduction Chapter 4 Chapter 1 The Intentional Dimension Chapter 5 Chapter 2 The Structural Dimension Chapter 6 Chapter 3 The Curricular Dimension Chapter 7 Chapter 4 The Pedagogical Dimension Chapter 8 Chapter 5 The Evaluative Dimension Chapter 9 Chapter 6 Stress at School Chapter 10 Chapter 7 What I've Learned So Far Chapter 11 Chapter 8 The Future: Improving Themselves and Schools Chapter 12 Chapter 9 Good Experiences and Missed Opportunities Chapter 13 Chapter 10 Stories That Must Be Told Part 14 References Part 15 Index Part 16 About the Author
