School: The Story of American Public Education

EsteemedhistoriansofeducationDavidTyack,CarlKaestle,DianeRavitch,JamesAnderson,andLarryCubanjourneythroughhistoryandacrossthenationtorecapturetheidealismofoureducationpioneers,ThomasJeffersonandHoraceMann.Welearnhow,inthefirstquarterofthetwentiethcentury,massiveimmigration,childlaborlaws,andtheexplosivegrowthofcitiesfueledschoolattendanceandtransformedpubliceducation,andhowinthe1950spublicschoolsbecameamajorbattlegroundinthefightforequalityforminoritiesandwomen.Thedebaterageson:Dotoday'sreformschallengeourforebears'notionofacommonschoolforallAmericans?Oraretheyouronlyrecoursetoday?ThislavishlyillustratedcompanionbooktotheacclaimedPBSdocumentary,School,isessentialreadingforanyonewhocaresaboutpubliceducation.