Crash Course: A Radical Plan for Improving Public Education - Softcover

Whittle, Chris

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9781594482199: Crash Course: A Radical Plan for Improving Public Education

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594482195 ISBN 13: 9781594482199

Publisher: Riverhead Trade, 2006

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The founder of Edison Schools and Channel One describes the sobering challenges that are preventing a large percentage of today's young people from acquiring a quality public education, in an account that makes recommendations on how to institute effective improvements. Reprint.

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About the Author:

Chris Whittle was the owner of Esquire magazine and the founder of Whittle Communications and Channel One, all before the age of forty. In 1991, he conceived and founded Edison Schools, which now serves more than 270,000 students in 20 states and two countries.

From Publishers Weekly:

Whittle, founder and CEO of Edison Schools, one of the nation's leading charter school companies, wants to fix America's education system. In spite of No Child Left Behind—which he supports—America's children still aren't learning their three Rs, he says. Why, Whittle asks, do we keep assuming that throwing more money at the problem is the only way it'll get better, even though we already spend huge amounts per student? Why, in the age of Wal-Mart and Federal Express—two of Whittle's favorite business models—do we insist on treating education like a small-is-better cottage industry? Why don't we sponsor research into better school design? Whittle wants the federal government to fund the startup of three large and experimental k–12 education systems, which could become the foundation for a national "multiprovider model." While Whittle's ideal school is not the usual "performance oriented" one that stresses testing until students drop, it's anyone's guess how techniques from the business world (motivational speakers, stress on teamwork, increased independent activity) will fly with kindergartners. But after weathering fierce opposition to his TV-in-the-classroom Channel One, Whittle has learned the softer sell: this book is a cleverly-crafted sales pitch to the teachers' unions, congressional leaders, the President and, finally, America's parents. (Sept.)
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