Preparing For Power: America's Elite Boarding Schools - Softcover

Cookson Jr, Peter W; Persell, Caroline Hodges

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0465062695 ISBN 13: 9780465062690

Publisher: Basic Books, 1987

Synopsis

Why do private boarding schools produce such a disproportionate number of leaders in business, government, and the arts? In the most comprehensive study of its kind to date, two sociologists describe the complex ways in which elite schools prepare students for success and power, and they also provide a lively behind-the-scenes look at prep–school life and underlife.

About this title

About the Author

Peter W. Cookson, Jr., is senior research associate in the Department of Sociology at New York University. Caroline Hodges Persell is professor and chairperson in the Department of Sociology at New York University.

From Library Journal

For this book, the authors visited more than 60 elite prep schools in the United States and England, interviewing ad ministrators, faculty, students, and alumni. Attended by less than one per cent of the high school population, these schools turn out a disporportion ate number of business, professional, and government leaders. The authors argue that the philosophies, programs, and lifestyles of boarding schools help transmit the power and privilege of elite families. They show how students are selected and examine the curricula, teaching styles, student underlife, and the link between prep school atten dance and admission to the ``right'' uni versities and the corporate boardroom. An interesting sociological study as well as an educational document. Shirley L. Hopkinson, Library & Infor mation Science Div., California State Univ., San Jose
Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: Basic Books
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0465062695
• ISBN 13: 9780465062690
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 272