Old School Still Matters: Lessons from History to Reform Public Education in America

Brian L. Fife

ISBN 10: 0313398097 / ISBN 13: 9780313398094

Published by Praeger, 2013

About this Item

2013. 1st Edition. Hardcover. . . . . . Books ship from the US and Ireland.

Seller Inventory # V9780313398094

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Old School Still Matters: Lessons from History to Reform Public Education in America
• Publisher: Praeger
• Publication Date: 2013
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0313398097
• ISBN 13: 9780313398094
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

About this title

Synopsis

Can public schools in America be saved? This book considers theory, current practice, and the common school ideal through a historical lens to arrive at practical suggestions for reforming contemporary public education.

Despite dramatic, sweeping changes in recent decades, a strong case can be made for guiding the reformation of contemporary public education in the United States on common school ideology of the nineteenth century. The author argues that the common school remains a public institution capable of preparing America's youth to contribute to the community in a positive manner, and that education must be treated at a public good where all children―regardless of social class―have a right to a quality education. The work includes a thorough overview of Horace Mann's writings on K–12 public education that support the common school ideal―concepts that are over 150 years old, yet still highly relevant today.

About the Author

Brian L. Fife is professor and chair of the Department of Public Policy at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne. His publications include Old School Still Matters: Lessons from History to Reform Public Education in America.