Failing Our Brightest Kids: The Global Challenge of Educating High-Ability Students (Educational Innovations Series) - Softcover

Finn Jr., Chester E.; Wright, Brandon L.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1612508413 ISBN 13: 9781612508412

Publisher: Harvard Education Press, 2015

Synopsis

In this provocative volume, Chester E. Finn, Jr., and Brandon L. Wright argue that, for decades, the United States has done too little to focus on educating students to achieve at high levels. The authors identify two core problems: First, compared to other countries, the United States does not produce enough high achievers. Second, students from disadvantaged backgrounds are severely underrepresented among those high achievers. The authors describe educating students to high levels of achievement as an issue of both equity and human capital: talented students deserve appropriate resources and attention, and the nation needs to develop these students’ abilities to remain competitive in the international arena.

The authors embark on a study of twelve countries and regions to address these issues, exploring the structures and practices that enable some countries to produce a higher proportion of high-achieving students than the United States and to more equitably represent disadvantaged students among their top scorers. Based on this research, the authors present a series of ambitious but pragmatic points that they believe should inform US policy in this area.

This candid and engaging book takes a topic that is largely discussed behind closed doors and puts it squarely on the table for public debate.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

Failing Our Brightest Kids argues that the United States, compared to other countries, has done too little to educate students to the highest levels of achievement—particularly students from disadvantaged backgrounds. This candid and provocative book makes a powerful case that our country can and should do more to fully develop the nation’s human capital by providing gifted and talented students the opportunities they deserve.

“Failing Our Brightest Kids provides a comprehensive analysis of the failure to educate American students to high levels. Using international comparisons, Finn and Wright provide clear recommendations and opportunities for action that meet both the challenge and charge of America—educational excellence and equity.”
—Hanna Skandera, secretary of education, New Mexico Public Education Department

“Finn and Wright make a strong case that policy makers and education leaders must work to improve the education of academically talented children from all socioeconomic categories so that our nation lives up to its commitment to equity, maintains its competitive edge, and helps these children develop as happy and productive citizens.”
—M. René Islas, executive director, National Association for Gifted Children

“This book provides myriad insights into why the US has a relatively poor record of educating its best students and gives a clear, balanced prescription for what is to be done. The bottom line: we should not settle for getting everyone merely to proficiency; we need actively to cultivate our star students, particularly those from poor families.”
—Harold Levy, executive director, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, and former New York City schools chancellor

“With this vital and controversial book, Checker Finn and Brandon Wright have made a huge contribution to educational thinking on a subject that has been neglected for far too long. Policy makers across America and beyond should pay attention!”
—Sir Michael Barber, chief education advisor, Pearson

Chester E. Finn, Jr., is a distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Brandon L. Wright is a managing editor and policy associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

Failing Our Brightest Kids is a volume in the Educational Innovations series.

About the Author:

Chester E. Finn, Jr., is a distinguished senior fellow and president emeritus at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute, and a senior fellow at Stanford’s Hoover Institution. Brandon L. Wright is a managing editor and policy associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute.

About this edition

• Publisher: Harvard Education Press
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 1612508413
• ISBN 13: 9781612508412
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 312