Seeds of Tomorrow: Solutions for Improving Our Children's Education - Softcover

Engel, Angela

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1594517797 ISBN 13: 9781594517792

Publisher: Routledge, 2010

Synopsis

This inspiring author moves beyond criticism of public education uniting readers toward a vision of educating children that is holistic, intelligent, and empowering. Seeds of Tomorrow: Solutions for Improving Our Children’s Education offers reasonable alternatives to high-stakes testing. Engel promotes educational philosophies in support of differentiation and personalization rather than uniformity and conformity. She introduces school collaborative accountability models ensuring academic integrity and excellence on behalf of students, teachers, and our communities.

In a time of political transition and optimism, Americans are looking for the means to improve our nation’s schools. Engel acknowledges the interdependence between education, democratic citizenship, the global work force and the economy, the individual and the community. She seeks not to create consensus on a singular school model but rather to build a common framework. New decisions necessitate a clear understanding of where we’ve come from and where we’re headed.

Written for parents, teachers, administrators, students, and policy makers committed to children and change, the book is hopeful in its analysis of our current challenges: poverty, inequity, and budget shortfalls. It is also sensible in its examination of today’s proposals including performance pay, magnet schools, charter schools, and vouchers.
Uniquely engaging and surprisingly entertaining, Engel’s combination of story telling and research data offers a comprehensive guide to cultivating future generations of problem-solvers and leaders.

Read an article about Angela Engel in the Centennial Citizen community newspaper Centennial Citizen newspaper

About this title

About the Author

Angela Engel writes from her experiences as a teacher, parent, school administrator, speaker, and policy advisor. Currently a facilitator for the Family Leadership Training Institute, she earned her master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Colorado–Denver. Her work with state legislators has led to policies that improve learning and opportunities for Colorado’s children.

Review

“For everyone who cares about the well-being of every child, Angela Engel’s Seeds of Tomorrow presents a thoughtful, provocative, and well-documented case for discarding traditional standards when measuring educational achievement. She argues persuasively that such testing frequently results in underestimating each child’s potential for learning, beginning a downward spiral in how children are perceived by teachers and, worse, how they perceive themselves. And while recognizing that public investments in quality education may be the most important thing a society can do for its children, Engel makes the case for the nation concretely addressing poverty, family stability, health care, child abuse, and other needs which make learning more likely. While providing a stark interpretation of how things are for many children, Engel is ever the optimist in how things could be. And to her credit she offers many of the policy and practice changes needed to inspire children to learn―and which restore confidence in adults that constructive change is possible.”
―Michael Petit, President, Every Child Matters Education Fund

"A valuable guide for reconstructing an education that responds to the needs of heart and mind while contributing to a productive and just society."
―H. M. Levin

“From the rare vantage point of a school teacher, scholar, historian and parent, Angela Engels lays out the ingredients and implications of standardized testing for our children. Focused extensively on democracy, she cogently draws out the challenges and offers up solutions to improved student learning. Agree or disagree with her analysis, this book is special in tone, detail, analysis and passion. It is worth every teacher and parent reading Seeds of Tomorrow to understand why and how we have become a nation driven to judge and reshape our educational system through standardized testing, and what our children will lose and gain through this decision. Put your feet up, grab some tea and read this book. Engels writes as if in the kitchen with friends. She is candid, clear and offers up story after story as both a parent and a teacher on the implications of standardized testing in our communities. Not so often do we find complex issues presented in such a lucid manner. This author clearly values the family and her heart is in every child learning with depth and wonder.”
―Elaine Zimmerman, Connecticut Commission on Children and Parent Leadership Training Institute

About this edition

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2010
• ISBN 10: 1594517797
• ISBN 13: 9781594517792
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160