Class And Schools: Using Social, Economic, And Educational Reform To Close The Black-white... - Softcover

Rothstein, Richard

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1932066098 ISBN 13: 9781932066098

Publisher: Economic Policy Inst, 2004

Synopsis

It seems to be a common-sense argument that, if teachers know how to teach reading, or math, or any other subject, and if schools emphasize the importance of these tasks and permit no distractions, children should be able to learn regardless of their family income or skin color. But this perspective is misleading and dangerous. It ignores how social class characteristics in a stratified society like ours influence learning in school. For nearly half a century, the association between social and economic disadvantage and the student achievement gap has been well known to economists, sociologists, and educators. Most, however, have avoided the obvious implication of this understanding, that raising the achievement of lower-class children requires that public policy address the social and economic conditions of these children’s lives, not just school reform.

About this title

About the Author

Richard Rothstein is a research associate of the Economic Policy Institute and a visiting lecturer at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also the author of The Way We Were? The Myths and Realities of America’s Student Achievement (Century Foundation Press 1998).

Review

... powerful volume that needs to be read by scholars, policy makers, and practitioners who have the capacity to shape tomorrow. -- From the preface by Arthur E. Levine, president, Teachers College, Columbia University

Edition details

• Publisher: Economic Policy Inst
• Publication date: 2004
• ISBN 10: 1932066098
• ISBN 13: 9781932066098
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 210