1.
by
Abernathy, Scott Franklin, 1966-
Call Number
379.1110973 22
Publication Date
2005
Summary
InSchool Choice and the Future of American Democracy, Scott Franklin Abernathy shows what is lost in the school choice debate. Abernathy looks at parents as citizens who exert power over the educational system through everything from their votes on school budgets to their membership on school boards. Challenging the assumption that public schools will improve when confronted with market-based reforms, Abernathy examines the possibility that public schools will become more disconnected and isolated as civic life is privatized."Scott Abernathy takes up big questions and provides answers grounded in the complex reality of policy and politics. School Choice and the Future of American Democracyis a book written for those who understand that the world does not fit the simple explanations too often put forward."--Clarence Stone, Professor Emeritus, University of Maryland, and Research Professor, George Washington University"Will school choice revive or eviscerate democratic processes and institutions? Will it narrow or exacerbate the range of educational inequities? This book takes several differently angled slices into these questions and draws intriguing answers."--Jeffrey R. Henig, Teachers College, Columbia University, and author ofRethinking School Choice: Limits of the Market Metaphor"Through extensive research and refreshingly impartial analysis, Scott Abernathy probes how the use of market principles to reform public schools affects democratic citizenship. Treating citizens first and foremost as customers, he finds, threatens civic engagement and the well-being of schools, especially in the nation's neediest communities. This thoughtful and balanced appraisal is must-reading for those concerned about the future of American education and democracy."--Suzanne Mettler, Alumni Associate Professor, Syracuse University, and author ofSoldiers to Citizens: The G.I. Bill and the Making of the Greatest GenerationScott Franklin Abernathy is Assistant Professor of Political Science, University of Minnesota.
Format:
Electronic Resources
Relevance:
2.4634
View Other Search Results
by
Gill, Brian P., 1968-
Call Number
379.111 21
Publication Date
2001
Summary
Widespread dissatisfaction with our nation's public education system has led to proposals for a variety of reforms to improve educational outcomes. One highly controversial proposal would provide financial grants, or "vouchers," for use at any public or private school. Another, more politically popular proposal would establish "charter" schools, funded by public money and approved by a public agency but operating outside the traditional system of public-school governance. Both vouchers and charters promote educational choice, market accountability, and schools that are autonomously operated by non-government organizations. This book seeks to identify and articulate the full range of empirical questions that must be answered to fully assess the wisdom of policies that promote either of these alternatives. Eschewing the polemics that characterize both sides of the debate on school choice, the authors provide a comprehensive assessment of what is known about the effects of vouchers and charters in terms of five important outcomes: academic achievement, family choice, equitable access, racial/ethnic integration, and civic socialization. The book discusses the important empirical questions that are as yet unresolved and considers the prospects for answering them in the future. Finally, it explores the details of the design of voucher and charter policies, concluding with recommendations for policymakers who are considering their enactment.
Format:
Electronic Resources
Relevance:
2.4597
View Other Search Results
Limit Search Results