best books about education system

School's out

A critical take on education and schooling

The 50 great books on education

Professor of Education, University of Derby

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I have often argued that I would not let any teacher into a school unless – as a minimum – they had read, carefully and well, the three great books on education: Plato’s Republic, Rousseau’s Émile and Dewey’s Democracy and Education. There would be no instrumental purpose in this, but the struggle to understand these books and the thinking involved in understanding them would change teachers and ultimately teaching.

These are the three great books because each is sociologically whole. They each present a description and arguments for an education for a particular and better society. You do not have to agree with these authors. Plato’s tripartite education for a just society ruled over by philosopher kings; Rousseau’s education through nature to establish the social contract and Dewey’s relevant, problem-solving democratic education for a democratic society can all be criticised. That is not the point. The point is to understand these great works. They constitute the intellectual background to any informed discussion of education.

What of more modern works? I used to recommend the “blistering indictment” of the flight from traditional liberal education that is Melanie Phillips’s All Must Have Prizes, to be read alongside Tom Bentley’s Learning Beyond the Classroom: Education for a Changing World, which is a defence of a wider view of learning for the “learning age”. These two books defined the debate in the 1990s between traditional education by authoritative teachers and its rejection in favour of a new learning in partnership with students.

Much time and money is spent on teacher training and continuing professional development and much of it is wasted. A cheaper and better way of giving student teachers and in-service teachers an understanding of education would be to get them to read the 50 great works on education.

The books I have identified, with the help of members of the Institute of Ideas’ Education Forum, teachers and colleagues at several universities, constitute an attempt at an education “canon”.

What are “out” of my list are textbooks and guides to classroom practice. What are also “out” are novels and plays. But there are some great literary works that should be read by every teacher: Charles Dicken’s Hard Times – for Gradgrind’s now much-needed celebration of facts; D. H. Lawrence’s The Rainbow – for Ursula Brangwen’s struggle against her early child-centred idealism in the reality of St Philips School; and Alan Bennett’s The History Boys – for Hector’s role as the subversive teacher committed to knowledge.

I hope I have produced a list of books, displayed here in alphabetical order, that are held to be important by today’s teachers. I make no apology for including the book I wrote with Kathryn Ecclestone, The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education because it is an influential critical work that has produced considerable controversy. If you disagree with this, or any other of my choices, please add your alternative “canonical” books on education.

Michael W. Apple – Official Knowledge: Democratic Education in a Conservative Age (1993)

Hannah Arendt – Between Past and Future (1961), for the essay “The Crisis in Education” (1958)

Matthew Arnold – Culture and Anarchy (1867-9)

Robin Barrow – Giving Teaching Back to the Teachers (1984)

Tom Bentley – Learning Beyond The Classroom: Education for a Changing World (1998)

Allan Bloom – The Closing of the American Mind: How Higher Education Has Failed Democracy and Impoverished the Souls of Today’s Students (1987)

Pierre Bourdieu and Jean-Claude Passeron – Reproduction in Education, Society and Culture (1977)

Samuel Bowles and Herbert Gintis – Schooling in Capitalist America: Educational Reform and the Contradictions of Economic Life (1976)

Jerome Bruner – The Process of Education (1960)

John Dewey – Democracy and Education (1916)

Margaret Donaldson – Children’s Minds (1978)

JWB Douglas – The Home and the School (1964)

Kathryn Ecclestone and Dennis Hayes – The Dangerous Rise of Therapeutic Education (2008)

Harold Entwistle – Antonio Gramsci: Conservative Schooling for Radical Politics (1979).

Paulo Freire – Pedagogy of the Oppressed (1968/1970)

Frank Furedi – Wasted: Why Education Isn’t Educating (2009)

Helene Guldberg – Reclaiming Childhood (2009)

ED Hirsch Jnr. – The Schools We Need And Why We Don’t Have Them (1999)

Paul H Hirst – Knowledge and the Curriculum (1974) For the essay which appears as Chapter 3 ‘Liberal Education and the Nature of Knowledge’ (1965)

John Holt – How Children Fail (1964)

Eric Hoyle – The Role of the Teacher (1969)

James Davison Hunter – The Death of Character: Moral Education in an Age without Good or Evil (2000)

Ivan Illich – Deschooling Society (1971)

Nell Keddie (Ed.) – Tinker, Taylor: The Myth of Cultural Deprivation (1973)

John Locke – Some Thoughts Concerning Education (1692)

John Stuart Mill – Autobiography (1873)

Sybil Marshall – An Experiment in Education (1963)

Alexander Sutherland Neil – Summerhill: A Radical Approach to Child Rearing (1960)

John Henry Newman – The Idea of a University (1873)

Michael Oakeshott – The Voice of Liberal Learning (1989) In particular for the essay “Education: The Engagement and Its Frustration” (1972)

Anthony O’ Hear – Education, Society and Human Nature: An Introduction to the Philosophy of Education (1981)

Richard Stanley Peters – Ethics and Education (1966)

Melanie Phillips – All Must Have Prizes (1996)

Plato – The Republic (366BC?)

Plato – Protagoras (390BC?) and Meno (387BC?)

Neil Postman – The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School (1995)

Neil Postman and Charles Weingartner – Teaching as a Subversive Activity (1969)

Herbert Read – Education Through Art (1943)

Carl Rogers – Freedom to Learn: A View of What Education Might Become (1969)

Jean-Jacques Rousseau – Émile or “on education” (1762)

Bertrand Russell – On Education (1926)

Israel Scheffler – The Language of Education (1960)

Brian Simon – Does Education Matter? (1985) Particularly for the paper “Why No Pedagogy in England?” (1981)

JW Tibble (Ed.) – The Study of Education (1966)

Lev Vygotsky – Thought and Language (1934/1962)

Alfred North Whitehead – The Aims of Education and other essays (1929)

Paul E. Willis – Learning to Labour: How Working Class Kids Get Working Class Jobs (1977)

Alison Wolf – Does Education Matter? Myths about Education and Economic Growth (2002)

Michael FD Young (Ed) – Knowledge and Control: New Directions for the Sociology of Education (1971)

Michael FD Young – Bringing Knowledge Back In: From Social Constructivism to Social Realism in the Sociology of Education (2007)

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Best Books on Education

Expand your understanding of learning with these key books on education, compiled from notable educational articles and rankings, and sequenced by how often they were spotlighted..

7 Must-Read Books on Education

By maria popova.

ISAAC ASIMOV: THE ROVING MIND

Once we have computer outlets in every home, each of them hooked up to enormous libraries where anyone can ask any question and be given answers, be given reference materials, be something you’re interested in knowing, from an early age, however silly it might seem to someone else… that’s what YOU are interested in, and you can ask, and you can find out, and you can do it in your own home, at your own speed, in your own direction, in your own time… Then, everyone would enjoy learning. Nowadays, what people call learning is forced on you, and everyone is forced to learn the same thing on the same day at the same speed in class, and everyone is different.” ~ Isaac Asimov

SIR KEN ROBINSON: THE ELEMENT

We have a system of education that is modeled on the interest of industrialism and in the image of it. School are still pretty much organized on factory lines — ringing bells, separate facilities, specialized into separate subjects. We still educate children by batches. Why do we do that?”

For an excellent complement to The Element , we highly recommend Robinson’s prior book, Out of Our Minds: Learning to be Creative — re-released last month, it offers a thoughtful and provocative analysis of the disconnect between the kinds of “intelligence” measured and encouraged in schools and the kinds of creativity most essential to our society moving forward.

A NEW CULTURE OF LEARNING

We’re stuck in a mode where we’re using old systems of understanding learning to try to understand these new forms, and part of the disjoint means that we’re missing some really important and valuable data.” ~ Douglas Thomas

Our full review here .

CLARK KERR: THE USES OF THE UNIVERSITY

What the railroads did for the second half of the last century and the automobile for the first half of this century may be done for the second half of this century by the knowledge industry: And that is, to serve as the focal point for national growth.” ~ Clark Kerr

ANYA KAMENETZ: DIYU

The promise of free or marginal-cost open-source content, techno-hybridization, unbundling of educational functions, and learner-centered educational experiences and paths is too powerful to ignore. These changes are inevitable. They are happening now. […] However, these changes will not automatically become pervasive.” ~ Anya Kamenetz

KARL WEBER: WAITING FOR SUPERMAN

In America right now, a kid drops out of high school every 26 seconds. These drop-outs are 8 times more likely to go to prison, 50% less likely to vote, more likely to need social welfare assistance, not eligible for 90% of jobs, are being paid 40 cents to the dollar of earned by a college graduate, and continuing the cycle of poverty.”

HOWARD GARDNER: FIVE MINDS FOR THE FUTURE

The synthesizing mind takes information from disparate sources, understands and evaluates that information objectively, and puts it together in ways that make sense to the synthesizer and also to other persons. Valuable in the past, the capacity to synthesize becomes ever more crucial as information continues to mount at dizzying rates.” ~ Howard Gardner

— Published April 11, 2011 — https://www.themarginalian.org/2011/04/11/7-must-read-books-on-education/ —

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31 Of The Most Influential Books About Education [Updated]

Note that there are no books about education on the list from 1990 – present.  Too early to make the call, in my humble opinion.

A Collection Of The Most Influential Books About Education Ever Printed

by Grant Wiggins

This post was originally written by Grant in 2012

With the holidays soon upon us, I thought it appropriate to provide a list of what are arguably the most historically influential books in education, as we ponder gifts for colleagues, friends and loved ones who are educators.

This list came from a crowd-source appeal via Twitter and an email to colleagues and friends. Each book on the list received at least 5 votes from the 50 or so folks who responded; good enough for me. Yes, I know – it’s subjective. Yes, I know – it’s almost all men. Yes, I know – you are appalled at the inclusion of x and the failure to include y. Yes, it probably reflects educators ‘of a certain age.’

In case you are interested, my choices were: Plato, Rousseau, Dewey, Polya, and Tyler. It’s truly shocking to me how few math teachers have read Polya, IMHO; it’s sad how few people read Dewey anymore (admittedly not easy reading) since his vision framed the mission for most modern educators. And Tyler is my guru – the author of ‘backward design’ thinking, 70 years ago. I would not have included Lortie, Callahan, or Silberman even though I like all 3 books, because they are more of about history/sociology than a theoretical or practical guide. I wanted Alvin Toffler for  Future Shock  – no one else selected him, alas.

I can honestly say I had read all of them except one: I was initially unfamiliar with the Rosenblatt, a surprisingly modern view of teaching English from many decades ago, and have now read it – good stuff.

Note that there are no books on the list from 1990 – present.  Too early to make the call, in my humble opinion. The books that follow are thus ‘classics’, deserving of your time and thought. All of them, even the ones with which you might have issues, provide great food for thought. So,  bon appetit !

This post first appeared on Grant’s personal blog 

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Books about American Education System: 2024’s Best Titles

If you’re looking for a comprehensive understanding of the American education system, these 20 books are essential reads. From policy analysis to personal narratives, each book on American education system provides unique insights into the challenges and triumphs of the education system in the United States. Whether you’re a student, educator, or policymaker, these books will deepen your understanding of the complexities within the American education system.

• 1 20 Best Books About American Education System
• 2 The Death and Life of the Great American School System
• 3 The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession
• 4 The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America
• 5 The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better
• 6 The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux
• 7 The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness
• 8 The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future
• 9 The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again
• 10 The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates
• 11 The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
• 12 The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It
• 13 The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere
• 14 The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Workers’ Movement
• 15 The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do
• 16 The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money
• 17 The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men
• 18 The Myth of the Spoiled Child: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Children and Parenting
• 19 The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers
• 20 Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools
• 21 The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School
• 22 Conclusion

20 Best Books About American Education System

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The Death and Life of the Great American School System

By diane ravitch.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch is a thought-provoking book about the state of education in the United States. Ravitch, a former advocate for education reform, presents a compelling argument against the current trends in education policy, advocating for a return to traditional teaching methods and a focus on the well-being of students. Through extensive research and analysis, she challenges the prevailing ideas about standardized testing, charter schools, and the role of the federal government in education. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of education in America, offering a critical and insightful perspective on the challenges facing the American education system today.

The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession

By dana goldstein.

The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein is a captivating book about the challenges and controversies surrounding the field of education in the United States. Goldstein delves into the history of the American education system, examining the various battles and debates that have shaped the teaching profession. From the early days of public education to the present, the book explores the impact of politics, unions, race, and gender on the teaching profession. Through engaging storytelling and thorough research, Goldstein sheds light on the complex issues surrounding education in America. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the American education system and the ongoing struggles faced by teachers.

The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America

By jonathan kozol.

The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol is a thought-provoking book on the American education system. Kozol delves into the issue of racial segregation in schools and the unequal distribution of resources, highlighting the stark disparities that persist in our education system. Through compelling narratives and extensive research, the author sheds light on the realities faced by students in underfunded and neglected schools, and the devastating impact of segregation on their opportunities for success. Kozol’s passionate advocacy for educational equity makes this book a powerful and eye-opening read, challenging readers to confront the systemic injustices that continue to plague the American education system. If you’re interested in understanding the complexities of the American education system and the ongoing fight for equality, this is a must-read.

The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better

By daniel koretz.

The Testing Charade by Daniel Koretz is a thought-provoking book on the American education system that delves into the problems associated with standardized testing. Koretz argues that these tests do not accurately measure students’ true abilities and that the focus on testing has led to a ‘charade’ in which schools pretend to be improving while actually failing to provide quality education. He discusses the negative impact of high-stakes testing on students, teachers, and schools, and offers insightful analysis on the flaws of the testing system. This book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of testing and its impact on our schools. Koretz’s compelling arguments and evidence-based approach make this book a valuable resource for educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned about the state of education in America.

The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux

By cathy n. davidson.

The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux by Cathy N. Davidson is a groundbreaking book on the American education system that challenges traditional teaching methods and advocates for a more dynamic and inclusive approach to learning.

Davidson argues that the current American education system is outdated and ill-equipped to prepare students for the rapidly changing demands of the modern world. She presents innovative ideas and practical strategies for transforming universities into more collaborative, student-centered environments that foster creativity, adaptability, and critical thinking skills.

This thought-provoking book about the American education system is essential reading for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of higher education. Davidson’s insights and research provide a compelling vision for how universities can better serve the needs of students and society as a whole.

The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness

By todd rose.

The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose is a groundbreaking book that challenges the traditional notions of education and success in the modern world. Rose argues that the ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach to education is fundamentally flawed, and that the American education system must move away from the outdated concept of ‘average’ and embrace the individuality of each student. Through engaging storytelling and compelling research, Rose shows how the current system fails to accommodate the diverse needs and talents of students, and offers practical solutions for creating a more personalized and effective approach to education. This thought-provoking book about the American education system is essential reading for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of our modern educational landscape.

The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future

By linda darling-hammond.

The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future by Linda Darling-Hammond is a thought-provoking book on the American education system. Darling-Hammond delves into the challenges and opportunities facing education in the 21st century, emphasizing the importance of equity in ensuring a successful future for the nation. She argues that in a globalized world, it is imperative for the American education system to prioritize fairness and inclusivity to prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce. The book offers a comprehensive analysis of the current state of education in the United States and provides insightful recommendations for policymakers, educators, and parents. It is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and improving the American education system.

The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again

By robert w. mcchesney and john nichols.

The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again, authored by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols, is a thought-provoking book that delves into the challenges facing the media industry in the United States. The authors provide a comprehensive analysis of the state of journalism and the impact of technological advancements and corporate interests on the media landscape. They argue that the current crisis in journalism has profound implications for democracy and call for a revolution in the media system. The book offers a compelling critique of the commercialization and consolidation of media outlets and proposes bold solutions to revitalize journalism. This insightful and timely book is essential reading for anyone interested in the future of the media and its role in a democratic society.

The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates

By daniel golden.

The Price of Admission by Daniel Golden is a captivating book on the American education system that delves into the unequal opportunities for college admission in the United States. Golden exposes how the wealthy and powerful use their influence and financial resources to secure coveted spots at elite colleges for their children, while talented and deserving students from less privileged backgrounds are left outside the gates. Through in-depth research and compelling storytelling, the author sheds light on the pervasive inequality and corruption within the American education system, offering a thought-provoking analysis of who truly benefits from the college admissions process. This eye-opening book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of higher education and the impact of privilege on access to elite colleges.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

By michelle alexander.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander is a groundbreaking book that delves into the issue of mass incarceration in the United States. Alexander argues that the American justice system has been used as a tool for racial control, creating a new form of segregation and discrimination against African Americans. She explores how the war on drugs, harsh sentencing laws, and the prison-industrial complex have disproportionately affected black communities, perpetuating a system of inequality and oppression. This eye-opening book challenges the notion of a colorblind society and sheds light on the systemic racism embedded in the criminal justice system. The New Jim Crow is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the complexities of the criminal justice system and its impact on communities of color.

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The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It

By tony wagner.

The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner is a thought-provoking book about the shortcomings of the American education system and the vital skills that are not being taught in schools. Wagner argues that even the best schools are failing to prepare students for the demands of the 21st century workforce, as they focus primarily on academic knowledge rather than essential life skills. Through extensive research and real-world examples, Wagner highlights the critical need for students to develop skills such as critical thinking, collaboration, adaptability, and effective communication. He also offers practical suggestions for educators, parents, and policymakers on how to bridge the gap and better equip students for success in the modern world. This insightful and engaging book is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of education and the development of our future leaders.

The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere

By kevin carey.

The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere by Kevin Carey is a groundbreaking book on the American education system. Carey explores how technology and innovation are reshaping the traditional model of higher education. He argues that the rise of online learning and open educational resources will transform the way students access knowledge and earn degrees. Carey envisions a future where the University of Everywhere, a global network of affordable and accessible education, will replace the traditional university system. The book challenges the current status quo and offers a compelling vision for the future of higher education. Carey’s insights and proposals are essential reading for anyone interested in the future of learning and the evolving landscape of higher education.

The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Workers’ Movement

By stanley aronowitz.

The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Workers’ Movement by Stanley Aronowitz is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges facing the labor movement in the United States. Aronowitz examines the decline of traditional labor unions and offers a compelling analysis of the changing dynamics of the American workforce. The book delves into the impact of globalization, technological advancements, and neoliberal economic policies on workers and their ability to organize and advocate for their rights. Aronowitz also presents a vision for revitalizing the labor movement and building a new workers’ movement that addresses the realities of the modern economy. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the state of the labor movement and the future of work in America.

The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do

By peg tyre.

The Trouble with Boys by Peg Tyre is an insightful book about the American education system, shedding light on the challenges that boys face in schools. Tyre presents a thought-provoking report card on our sons, addressing their struggles and offering solutions for parents and educators. Through extensive research and real-life examples, the book delves into the reasons behind the academic difficulties that boys often encounter, and provides compelling suggestions for how to support and empower them in the American education system. Tyre’s work is a wake-up call for anyone concerned about the well-being and success of boys in our schools, making it a must-read for parents, teachers, and policymakers looking to make a positive impact on the American education system.

The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money

By bryan caplan.

The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money by Bryan Caplan is a thought-provoking book that challenges the traditional view of the education system. Caplan argues that the current system is failing to deliver on its promise of providing valuable skills and knowledge, and instead, it has become a costly and inefficient endeavor. Drawing on extensive research and data, he presents a compelling case for why the education system is not the solution to economic and social problems. This book on the American education system will make you question the value of traditional schooling and rethink the way we approach education. Whether you agree with Caplan’s controversial thesis or not, this book about the American education system is sure to spark meaningful discussions and inspire critical thinking about the future of education.

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men

By christina hoff sommers.

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men by Christina Hoff Sommers is a thought-provoking book about the challenges facing young men in the American education system. Sommers argues that boys are being left behind in a system that is increasingly focused on the needs of girls, and she explores the various factors contributing to this trend. Drawing on extensive research and data, she tackles issues such as the decline of male achievement in schools, the impact of gender stereotypes, and the consequences of misguided policies. Through compelling analysis and compelling anecdotes, Sommers sheds light on the complex dynamics at play and offers valuable insights into how to better support young men in their educational journey. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the American education system and the challenges facing young men today.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Children and Parenting

By alfie kohn.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child by Alfie Kohn is a thought-provoking book that challenges conventional beliefs about children and parenting. Kohn argues that the widespread perception of children as entitled and spoiled is based on myths rather than facts. He delves into the impact of cultural and societal changes on parenting practices, and questions the effectiveness of traditional disciplinary methods. Kohn advocates for a more empathetic and respectful approach to raising children, emphasizing the importance of autonomy and intrinsic motivation. Through compelling research and real-life examples, Kohn challenges readers to rethink their assumptions about child rearing. This book offers a fresh perspective on the American education system and parenting, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and improving the relationship between children and adults.

The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers

By ron clark.

The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers by Ron Clark is a transformative book about the American education system. In this engaging and insightful read, Clark offers 101 innovative solutions for parents and teachers to help students break free from the traditional, stagnant methods of learning. Through personal anecdotes and practical advice, Clark challenges the status quo and advocates for a more dynamic and engaging approach to education. He emphasizes the importance of creativity, passion, and real-world experiences in the learning process, providing a roadmap for parents and educators to inspire and motivate the next generation. The End of Molasses Classes is a must-read for anyone looking to make a positive impact on the education system and empower students to reach their full potential.

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol is a gripping book on the disparities within the education system in the United States. Kozol takes readers on a journey through the stark differences in resources, funding, and opportunities available to students in affluent and impoverished communities. Through compelling stories and eye-opening statistics, the author sheds light on the devastating impact of these inequalities on the lives of young learners. Kozol’s powerful narrative challenges readers to confront the harsh realities of the American education system and advocates for much-needed reform. This thought-provoking book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone passionate about social justice and equality in education.

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School

By neil postman.

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School by Neil Postman is a thought-provoking book on the American education system. Postman argues that the current educational system is failing to provide students with the necessary skills and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly changing world. He challenges the traditional values of education and proposes a redefinition of the purpose and value of schooling. Postman advocates for a shift towards an education that focuses on developing critical thinking, creativity, and moral reasoning, rather than just memorization and test-taking. Through engaging anecdotes and insightful analysis, Postman offers a compelling critique of the American education system and presents a vision for a more meaningful and effective approach to learning. This book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of education.

In conclusion, these 20 books about American Education System offer a comprehensive look at the challenges, successes, and potential improvements within the education system. Whether you are an educator, student, or parent, these books provide valuable insights and perspectives that can help shape the future of education in America.

Which American Education System book is best?

The best book on American Education System can vary with personal preference, but three widely recommended titles are:

• The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch ,
• The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein ,
• The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol .

Each offers valuable insights and could be a great starting point.

What are the best books to learn about American Education System?

For those looking to learn about American Education System, there is a wealth of literature that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Some of the most highly recommended books include:

• The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol ,
• The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better by Daniel Koretz ,
• The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux by Cathy N. Davidson ,
• The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose ,
• The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future by Linda Darling-Hammond ,
• The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols ,
• The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates by Daniel Golden ,
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

These books offer a range of perspectives on American Education System, covering various aspects and approaches to the subject.

What are the best books on American Education System?

The best books on American Education System include:

• The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It by Tony Wagner ,
• The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere by Kevin Carey ,
• The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose .

Each offers unique insights into the subject. While these books on the topic of American Education System are highly regarded, it’s important to note that any list of ‘best’ books is subjective and reflects a range of opinions.

What are the best American Education System books of all time?

Choosing the best American Education System books of all time can vary depending on who you ask, but seven titles that are often celebrated include

• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander ,
• and The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It by Tony Wagner .

Each of these books has made a significant impact in the field of American Education System and continues to be influential today.

Related posts:

100 Best Education Books of All Time

We've researched and ranked the best education books in the world, based on recommendations from world experts, sales data, and millions of reader ratings. Learn more

The New Psychology of Success

Carol S. Dweck | 5.00

Tony Robbins [Tony Robbins recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Bill Gates One of the reasons I loved Mindset is because it’s solutions-oriented. In the book’s final chapter, Dweck describes the workshop she and her colleagues have developed to shift students from a fixed to a growth mindset. These workshops demonstrate that ‘just learning about the growth mindset can cause a big shift in the way people think about themselves and their lives. (Source)

Dustin Moskovitz [Dustin Moskovitz recommended this book on Twitter.] (Source)

See more recommendations for this book...

Tara Westover | 4.99

Bill Gates Tara never went to school or visited a doctor until she left home at 17. I never thought I’d relate to a story about growing up in a Mormon survivalist household, but she’s such a good writer that she got me to reflect on my own life while reading about her extreme childhood. Melinda and I loved this memoir of a young woman whose thirst for learning was so strong that she ended up getting a Ph.D.... (Source)

Barack Obama As 2018 draws to a close, I’m continuing a favorite tradition of mine and sharing my year-end lists. It gives me a moment to pause and reflect on the year through the books I found most thought-provoking, inspiring, or just plain loved. It also gives me a chance to highlight talented authors – some who are household names and others who you may not have heard of before. Here’s my best of 2018... (Source)

Alexander Stubb If you read or listen to only one book this summer, this is it. Bloody brilliant! Every word, every sentence. Rarely do I go through a book with such a rollecoaster of emotion, from love to hate. Thank you for sharing ⁦@tarawestover⁩ #Educated https://t.co/GqLaqlcWMp (Source)

The Story of Success

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.63

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2011.] (Source)

James Altucher Gladwell is not the first person to come up with the 10,000 hour rule. Nor is he the first person to document what it takes to become the best in the world at something. But his stories are so great as he explains these deep concepts. How did the Beatles become the best? Why are professional hockey players born in January, February and March? And so on. (Source)

Cat Williams-Treloar The books that I've talked the most about with friends and colleagues over the years are the Malcolm Gladwell series of novels. Glorious stories that mix science, behaviours and insight. You can't go wrong with the "The Tipping Point", "Outliers", "Blink" or "David & Goliath". (Source)

How Children Succeed

Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character

Paul Tough | 4.60

Chelsea Frank I was reading a book, “How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character” by Paul Tough on a recommendation by my sister, a Middle School teacher. At that time I considered myself a great mother with natural intuition and did not go to the book as a means of “self-help” but of leisurely pleasure. However, I was perplexed when I discovered that even the most intelligent,... (Source)

Make It Stick

The Science of Successful Learning

Peter C. Brown, Henry L. Roediger III, Mark A. McDaniel | 4.57

Barbara Oakley If you’re trying to keep up your reading about learning, one of the best books about learning is Make It Stick: The Science of Successful Learning by Peter Brown, Henry Roediger III, and Mark McDaniel. This insightful book was co-authored by some of the most influential researchers around. The book jacket says it best: “Many common study habits and practice routines turn out to be... (Source)

Pedagogy of the Oppressed

erbac | 4.56

Alexis Isabel @dontkauf i’ve read it! great book, def worth a re-read (Source)

How to Read a Book

The Classic Guide to Intelligent Reading

Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren | 4.55

Sergey Brin had “How to Read a Book” by Mortimer J. Adler as one of his most recommended books. (Source)

Ben Chestnut I also love How to Read a Book by Mortimer Adler. I’m teaching its tips to my children while they’re young, so they can consume books much faster and have more fun reading. (Source)

Kevin Systrom [The author's] thesis is that the most important part of reading a book is to actually read the table of contents and familiarize yourself with the major structure of the book. (Source)

Thinking, Fast and Slow

Kahneman | 4.53

Barack Obama A few months ago, Mr. Obama read “Thinking, Fast and Slow,” by Daniel Kahneman, about how people make decisions — quick, instinctive thinking versus slower, contemplative deliberation. For Mr. Obama, a deliberator in an instinctive business, this may be as instructive as any political science text. (Source)

Bill Gates [On Bill Gates's reading list in 2012.] (Source)

Marc Andreessen Captivating dive into human decision making, marred by inclusion of several/many? psychology studies that fail to replicate. Will stand as a cautionary tale? (Source)

Savage Inequalities

Children in America's Schools

Jonathan Kozol | 4.53

The Book Whisperer

Awakening the Inner Reader in Every Child

Donalyn Miller, Jeff Anderson | 4.52

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The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking

Susan Cain | 4.51

Simon Sinek eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'theceolibrary_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_5',164,'0','1'])); Leaders needn’t be the loudest. Leadership is not about theater. It’s not about dominance. It is about putting the lives of others before any other priority. In Quiet, Cain affirms to a good many of us who are introverts by nature that we needn’t try to be extroverts if we want to lead.... (Source)

Jason Fried A good book I’d recommend is “Quiet” by Susan Cain. (Source)

James Altucher Probably half the world is introverts. Maybe more. It’s not an easy life to live. I sometimes have that feeling in a room full of people, “uh-oh. I just shut down. I can’t talk anymore and there’s a lock on my mouth and this crowd threw away the key.” Do you ever get that feeling? Please? I hope you do. Let’s try to lock eyes at the party. “Quiet” shows the reader how to unlock the secret powers... (Source)

Dumbing Us Down

The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto | 4.51

The Smartest Kids in the World

And How They Got That Way

Amanda Ripley | 4.49

Angela Duckworth | 4.48

Benjamin Spall [Question: What five books would you recommend to youngsters interested in your professional path?] [...] Grit by Angela Duckworth (Source)

Bogdan Lucaciu Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance - it was frustrating to read: “Where was this book 20 years ago!?” (Source)

Stephen Lew When asked what books he would recommend to youngsters interested in his professional path, Stephen mentioned Grit. (Source)

Teaching to Transgress

Education as the Practice of Freedom

bell hooks | 4.48

Brene Brown This book sat next to my bed the entire first year I taught at the University of Houston. Hooks' idea of "education as the practice of freedom" shaped who I am today. Whenever difficult conversations about race, class, or gender begin to surface, I remember what she taught me: If your students are comfortable, you're not doing your job. (Source)

Les Back It’s really a wonderful account of the possibility that education has to shape and transform lives. (Source)

The Well-Trained Mind

A Guide to Classical Education at Home

Susan Wise Bauer, Jessie Wise | 4.45

Why Don't Students Like School?

A Cognitive Scientist Answers Questions About How the Mind Works and What It Means for the Classroom

Daniel T. Willingham | 4.44

The Death and Life of the Great American School System

How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education

Diane Ravitch | 4.44

Other People's Children

Cultural Conflict in the Classroom

Lisa Delpit | 4.43

Kelly Wickham Hurst @MJAntinarelli @KaitPopielarz It’s amazing. It’s THE book that changed everything for me early on in my career. It was such a swift kick to the head. (Source)

Michelle Rhee Other People’s Children is one of the books that all educators should read because it really gives a different perspective on teaching children who may not be of the same race or socioeconomic background. I think it’s always important for teachers to understand the cultural norms and expectations that prevail in the school environment where they work. Teachers need to be cognisant, not... (Source)

The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us

Daniel H. Pink | 4.42

Tobi Lütke [Tobi Lütke recommended this book in an interview in "The Globe and Mail."] (Source)

David Heinemeier Hansson Takes some of those same ideas about motivations and rewards and extrapolates them in a little bit. (Source)

Mike Benkovich I'd recommend a sprinkling of business books followed by a heap of productivity and behavioural psychology books. The business books will help you with principals and the psychological books help with everything else in your life. Building your own business can really f!@# you up psychologically. (Source)

The First Days of School

How to Be An Effective Teacher [with CD]

Harry K. Wong, Rosemary T. Wong | 4.42

I Am Malala

The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban

Malala Yousafzai, Christina Lamb | 4.41

Adrienne Kisner Malala’s story of triumph is a battle cry for girls (and boys) everywhere. Education can set you free. (Source)

Three Cups of Tea

One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time

Greg Mortenson, David Oliver Relin | 4.40

Jennifer Steil Greg Mortenson has changed literally thousands and thousands of lives. (Source)

Nicholas Kristof I think Greg does a very good job of providing a more nuanced portrait of the Islamic world and what is possible in it. (Source)

Gretchen Peters I went to a refugee camp after 9/11 where people were living in tents and boiling grass to make tea and at least one family offered to let me sleep in their tent. (Source)

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

James W. Loewen | 4.40

Creative Schools

The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education

Sir Ken Robinson PhD and Lou Aronica | 4.37

Ng Rong Xin Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That's Transforming Education by Sir Ken Robinson - a book for educator or edu-preneur or anyone who wants to make a change in the education realm. (Source)

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

Stephen R. Covey | 4.37

Dustin Moskovitz [I] was surprised at how familiar the topics felt. (Source)

Dave Ramsey [Dave Ramsey recommended this book on his website.] (Source)

Kishore Biyani Immensely helpful and influential during my early years, it explained some of the basic mindsets required to succeed in any profession. (Source)

For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood... and the Rest of Y'all Too

Reality Pedagogy and Urban Education

Christopher Emdin | 4.31

Teach Like a Champion

49 Techniques that Put Students on the Path to College

Doug Lemov | 4.31

Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire

The Methods and Madness Inside Room 56

Rafe Esquith | 4.28

The Shame of the Nation

The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America

Jonathan Kozol | 4.28

The One World Schoolhouse

Education Reimagined

Salman Kha | 4.28

How Schools Are Killing Reading and What You Can Do About It

Mr. Kelly Gallagher | 4.28

How Children Fail

John Holt | 4.27

Carol Dweck This was a revolutionary book. In it John Holt talks about why students turn off their minds, why even students from privileged backgrounds and schools become intellectually numb. Why do they fail? (Source)

Jacqueline Leighton One of the things that John Holt talks about is how children can learn to game the system, because they begin to realise what it will take to do well in school. (Source)

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?

And Other Conversations About Race

Beverly Daniel Tatum | 4.26

Denise Morris Kipnis I was serving on the board of a prestigious and exclusive school when I first read this. As part of the school’s commitment to inclusion, every group, including the board, went through diversity training. Our consultant, Glenn Singleton of Pacific Education Group, never let us forget why we were there: that improving outcomes for all our students was a business imperative. As a result of this... (Source)

The Read-Aloud Handbook

Jim Trelease | 4.26

Bethany S. Mandel Also: Read Aloud Revival (all parents should check it out), this is another great book for all parents: https://t.co/632afZ2yFC, and we like Beautiful Feet Books curriculum too (lots of literature based options on world cultures, history, character etc) (Source)

The Four Agreements

A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom

Don Miguel Ruiz, Janet Mills | 4.23

Jack Dorsey Question: What are the books that had a major influence on you? Or simply the ones you like the most. : Tao te Ching, score takes care of itself, between the world and me, the four agreements, the old man and the sea...I love reading! (Source)

Charlamagne Tha God These are the books I recommend people to listen to on @applebooks. (Source)

Karlie Kloss I just think it’s got a lot of great principles and ideas. (Source)

Excellent Sheep

The Miseducation of the American Elite and the Way to a Meaningful Life

William Deresiewicz | 4.23

Bryan Callen There’s a guy who I just had on my podcast, Mark Deresiewicz, who wrote a book called Excellent Sheep. He was a Yale professor, and took a look at the essentially what was wrong with higher education, at these elite institutions, primarily places like Amherst and Yale and Harvard. And one of the things he said is that we’re breeding excellent sheep. You’ve got 31 flavors of vanilla. These kids... (Source)

The Element

How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

Ken Robinson, Lou Aronica | 4.23

Ng Rong Xin I read this book the year I graduated from college and was in my first job. It was a game-changer because it was after I read the book that I decided to take a plunge to start Explorer Junior, my start-up. (Source)

The Teacher Wars

A History of America's Most Embattled Profession

Dana Goldstein | 4.22

Amusing Ourselves to Death

Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business

Neil Postman, Andrew Postman | 4.21

Austin Kleon Earlier this year Postman’s son Andrew wrote an op-ed with the title, “My dad predicted Trump in 1985 — it’s not Orwell, he warned, it’s Brave New World.” Postman wrote: “What Orwell feared were those who would ban books. What Huxley feared was that there would be no reason to ban a book, for there would be no one who wanted to read one.” (Source)

Steve Lance Neil Postman took the work of Marshall McLuhan – who was putting out early theories on media – and built on them. However, Postman was far more observant and empirical about the trends occurring in the media landscape. The trends which he identifies in Amusing Ourselves to Death, written in the 1980s, have since all come true. For example, he predicted that if you make news entertaining, then... (Source)

Kara Nortman @andrewchen Also a great book on the topic - Amusing Ourselves to Death https://t.co/yWLBxKumLQ (Source)

The Coddling of the American Mind

How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure

Greg Lukianoff, Jonathan Haidt | 4.21

Mark Manson The kids aren’t alright. No, really—I know every generation says that, but this time it’s true. Kids who grew up with smartphones (and have begun to enter the university system) are emotionally stunted, overly fragile, and exhibiting mental health issues at alarming rates. I expected this book to be another, “Let’s all shit on social media together,” party, but it’s not. Social media, of course,... (Source)

Max Levchin Highlights the need to continue to have such discussions about sensitive topics instead of ignoring them for the sake of comfort. (Source)

Glenn Beck Just finished The Coddling of the American mind by @glukianoff Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt. Insightful. Straight forward and very helpful. A book that not only correctly identifies what ails us but also gives practical steps to cure. MUST READ (Source)

How Children Learn

John Holt | 4.21

Experience and Education

John Dewey | 4.20

Lost at School

Why Our Kids with Behavioral Challenges are Falling Through the Cracks and How We Can Help Them

Ross W. Greene Ph.D. | 4.20

Weapons of Mass Instruction

A Schoolteacher's Journey Through The Dark World of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto | 4.20

Seth Godin I end up recommending this book to parents again and again. It will transform the way you think of schooling. (Source)

Reign of Error

The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger to America's Public Schools

Diane Ravitch | 4.20

The Well-Educated Mind

A Guide to the Classical Education You Never Had

Susan Wise Bauer | 4.19

The Power of Habit

Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business

Charles Duhigg | 4.19

Naval Ravikant I also recently finished The Power of Habit, or close to finish as I get. That one was interesting, not because of its content necessarily, but because it’s good for me to always keep on top of mind how powerful my habits are. [...] I think learning how to break habits is a very important meta-skill that can serve you better in life than almost anything else. Although you can read tons of books... (Source)

Blake Irving You know, there's a book called The Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Simple read book about just how to build positive habits that can be I think I what I'd call you know whether in your personal life or whether in your business life to help you build you know, have a loop that can build your success and that's one I mean there are so many great books out there. (Source)

Santiago Basulto Another book with great impact was “The power of habit”. But to be honest, I read only a couple of pages. It’s a good book, with many interesting stories. But to be honest, the idea it tries to communicate is simple and after a couple of pages you’ve pretty much understood all of it. Happens the same thing with those types of books (Getting things done, crossing the chasm, etc.) (Source)

Educating Esmé

Diary of a Teacher's First Year

Esme Raji Codell, Jim Trelease | 4.19

The Daily Five

Gail Boushey, Joan Moser | 4.19

The Courage to Teach

Exploring the Inner Landscape of a Teacher's Life

Parker J. Palmer | 4.18

How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk

Adele Faber, Elaine Mazlish | 4.18

Jeff Atwood "The best marriage advice book I’ve read is a paperback called How to Talk So Kids Will Listen & Listen So Kids Will Talk. As you might deduce from the title, it wasn’t meant as a marriage advice book." https://t.co/cy7JeKVsjV (Source)

Miguel De Icaza @codinghorror Yes - that is an awesome book too (Source)

How to Read Literature Like a Professor

Thomas C. Foster | 4.17

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may...

In this practical and amusing guide to literature, Thomas C. Foster shows how easy and gratifying it is to unlock those hidden truths, and to discover a world where a road leads to a quest; a shared meal may signify a communion; and rain, whether cleansing or destructive, is never just rain. Ranging from major themes to literary models, narrative devices, and form, How to Read Literature Like a Professor is the perfect companion for making your reading experience more enriching, satisfying, and fun.

The Whole-Brain Child

12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child's Developing Mind

Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson | 4.16

Genevieve Von Lob Siegel uses what neuroscience tells us about how a child’s brain develops to provide practical tips for parents. (Source)

Graham Duncan [Graham Duncan recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Freakonomics

A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything

Stephen J. Levitt, Steven D.; Dubner | 4.16

Malcolm Gladwell I don’t need to say much here. This book invented an entire genre. Economics was never supposed to be this entertaining. (Source)

Daymond John I love newer books like [this book]. (Source)

James Altucher [James Altucher recommended this book on the podcast "The Tim Ferriss Show".] (Source)

Brain Rules

12 Principles for Surviving and Thriving at Work, Home, and School

John Medina | 4.16

James Altucher Discusses how to keep your brain healthy. (Source)

Dmitry Dragilev There’s a book called Brain Rules, also a great book, by John Medina, sort of like how your brain works. (Source)

Democracy and Education

John Dewey | 4.16

Last Child in the Woods

Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder

Richard Louv | 4.16

Genevieve Von Lob Louv coined the term ‘Nature Deficit Disorder’ because he was so concerned about the alienation of young people from nature. (Source)

Free to Learn

Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life

Peter Gray | 4.16

Punished by Rewards

The Trouble with Gold Stars, Incentive Plans, A's, Praise and Other Bribes

Alfie Kohn | 4.16

David Heinemeier Hansson Outlines all the scientific research on why incentive systems don't work. (Source)

The Essential 55

An Award-Winning Educator's Rules for Discovering the Successful Student in Every Child

Ron Clark | 4.15

For the Children's Sake

Foundations of Education for Home and School

Susan Schaeffer Macaulay | 4.15

Bethany S. Mandel More: AmblesideOnline has lots of info and an amazing curriculum, Exploring Nature with Children is a great preschool curriculum and this book is a great place to start too: https://t.co/jETfCMdEnS (Source)

Teaching with Poverty in Mind

What Being Poor Does to Kids' Brains and What Schools Can Do about It

Eric Jensen | 4.15

Understanding by Design

Grant Wiggins, Jay McTighe | 4.15

Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around...

Authors Grant Wiggins and Jay McTighe answer these and many other questions in this second edition of Understanding by Design. Drawing on feedback from thousands of educators around the world who have used the UbD framework since its introduction in 1998, the authors have revised and expanded their original work to guide educators across the K16 spectrum in the design of curriculum, assessment, and instruction. With an improved UbD Template at its core, the book explains the rationale of backward design and explores in greater depth the meaning of such key ideas as essential questions and transfer tasks. Readers will learn why the familiar coverage- and activity-based approaches to curriculum design fall short, and how a focus on the six facets of understanding can enrich student learning. With an expanded array of practical strategies, tools, and examples from all subject areas, the book demonstrates how the research-based principles of Understanding by Design apply to district frameworks as well as to individual units of curriculum.

Combining provocative ideas, thoughtful analysis, and tested approaches, Understanding by Design , Expanded 2nd Edition, offers teacher-designers a clear path to the creation of curriculum that ensures better learning and a more stimulating experience for students and teachers alike.

Michelle Rhee Understanding by Design is an incredibly influential book. Its premise is that you have to start curriculum design with an end in mind. You figure out what your goal is first and plan backwards from there, building your curriculum around what you want to achieve. It sounds very simple but for a long time people weren’t doing that. They were covering units or textbooks without clear priorities or... (Source)

How We Learn

The Surprising Truth About When, Where, and Why It Happens

Benedict Carey | 4.15

Vladimir Oane He does a brilliant job proving that our thinking about learning is rooted more in superstition than in science. And boy this book is filled with science. It is extremely evident that the author is a science nerd because this book is 95% filled with studies and experiments on lots and lots of topics related to the learning: memorization, forgetting, associations, perceptions etc. This could make... (Source)

Culturally Responsive Teaching and the Brain

Promoting Authentic Engagement and Rigor Among Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Students

Zaretta L. (Lynn) Hammond | 4.14

The Power of Thinking Without Thinking

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.13

Mike Shinoda I know most of the guys in the band read [this book]. (Source)

Marillyn Hewson CEO Marilyn Hewson recommends this book because it helped her to trust her instincts in business. (Source)

A Mind for Numbers

How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)

Barbara Oakley PhD | 4.13

Mike Rowe A good teacher will leave you educated. But a great teacher will leave you curious. Well, Barbara Oakley is a great teacher. Not only does she have a mind for numbers, she has a way with words, and she makes every one of them count (Source)

Teach Like a Pirate

Increase Student Engagement, Boost Your Creativity, and Transform Your Life as an Educator

Dave Burgess | 4.13

Reading in the Wild

Donalyn Miller | 4.13

The Elements of Style

William Jr. Strunk | 4.13

Tobi Lütke [My] most frequently gifted book is [this book] because I like good writing. (Source)

Bill Nye This is my guide. I accept that I’ll never write anything as good as the introductory essay by [the author]. It’s brilliant. (Source)

Jennifer Rock If you are interested in writing and communication, start with reading and understanding the technical aspects of the craft: The Elements of Style. On Writing Well. On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft. (Source)

The Underground History of American Education

An Intimate Investigation Into the Prison of Modern Schooling

John Taylor Gatto, Richard Grove, et al. | 4.12

NurtureShock

New Thinking About Children

Po Bronson, Ashley Merryman | 4.12

A Thomas Jefferson Education

Teaching a Generation of Leaders for the Twenty-first Century

Oliver Van DeMille | 4.11

Teaching with Love and Logic

Taking Control of the Classroom

Jim Fay, David Funk | 4.11

Teaching from Rest

A Homeschooler's Guide to Unshakable Peace

Sarah Mackenzie and Dr. Christopher Perrin | 4.10

Whatever It Takes

Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America

Paul Tough | 4.10

Julia Enthoven As for non-fiction, Half the Sky (about crimes against women, especially in the developing world) and Whatever it Takes (about the Harlem Children’s Zone and the work of Geoffrey Canada) both changed my world-view enormously, and I thought they were both super compelling. (Source)

What Great Teachers Do Differently

17 Things That Matter Most

Todd Whitaker | 4.10

Out of Our Minds

Learning to Be Creative

Ken Robinson | 4.09

Deschooling Society

Ivan Illich | 4.09

Teacher Man (Frank McCourt, #3)

Frank McCourt | 4.09

A Whole New Mind

Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age

Daniel H. Pink | 4.09

Park Howell This is one of the books I recommend to people looking for a career in advertising. (Source)

Teaching as a Subversive Activity

Neil Postman, Charles Weingartner | 4.06

Moonwalking with Einstein

The Art and Science of Remembering Everything

Joshua Foer | 4.06

Bill Gates Of the five books I finished over vacation, the one that impressed me the most – and that is probably of broadest interest – is Moonwalking with Einstein: The Art and Science of Remembering Everything, by science writer Joshua Foer. This is an absolutely phenomenal book that looks at memory and techniques for dramatically improving memory. Foer actually mastered these techniques, which led him to... (Source)

Chelsea Handler It has changed my life and made me embarrass myself much less when meeting someone twice. (Source)

Deborah Blum This book focuses not so much on the scientists but more on the consequence and meaning of memory for the rest of us. Within the framework of a memory championship, Foer looks at this almost obsessive interest in learning, how to remember everything. He asks the really interesting philosophical question, which is, are we defined by what we remember? (Source)

The Abolition of Man

C. S. Lewi | 4.05

Letters to a Young Teacher

Jonathan Kozol | 4.05

A Framework for Understanding Poverty

Ruby K. Payne | 4.05

The Global Achievement Gap

Why Our Kids Don't Have the Skills They Need for College, Careers, and Citizenship—and What We Can Do About It

Tony Wagner | 4.05

Creating Innovators

The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World

Tony Wagner | 4.04

David and Goliath

Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Battling Giants

Malcolm Gladwell | 4.04

Catalina Penciu Business-wise, my goal for this year is to improve my collection and my mindset, but my favorite so far has been David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell. (Source)

Robert Katai Buy Malcolm Gladwell’s book “David and Goliath” and read the interesting stories about how the Davids of that moments have defeated the Goliaths. (Source)

The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools

Monique W. Morris | 4.04

I Read It, but I Don't Get It

Comprehension Strategies for Adolescent Readers

Cris Tovani | 4.04

The End of Education

Redefining the Value of School

Neil Postman | 4.04

Making Thinking Visible

How to Promote Engagement, Understanding, and Independence for All Learners

Ron Ritchhart, Mark Church, Karin Morrison | 4.03

Choice Words

How Our Language Affects Children's Learning

Peter H. Johnston | 4.03

The Reading Strategies Book

Your Everything Guide to Developing Skilled Readers

Jennifer Serravallo | 4.03

"Multiplication Is for White People"

Raising Expectations for Other People's Children

Lisa Delpit | 4.02

Work Hard. Be Nice.

How Two Inspired Teachers Created the Most Promising Schools in America

Jay Mathews | 4.01

Bill Gates Gives a great sense of how hard it was to get KIPP going and how intense the focus on good teaching is. (Source)

The CAFE Book

Engaging All Students in Daily Literacy Assessment and Instruction

Gail Boushey, Joan Moser | 4.00

The Total Money Makeover

A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness (Classic Edition)

Dave Ramsey | 4.00

Eric 'Dids' Recently listened to the Audiobook "Total Money Makeover" and am amazed how much it has made a difference, arguably more so outside of finance. The motto posed in the book, "Live like nobody else so eventually you can live like nobody else." Is an amazing motto to have in life. (Source)

Vincent Pugliese Linchpin by Seth Godin, The Total Money Makeover by Dave Ramsey, and Rich Dad, Poor Dad had immediate effects on my life. (Source)

Books That Will Change the Way You Think About Education

Jaime Herndon

Jaime Herndon finished her MFA in nonfiction writing at Columbia, after leaving a life of psychosocial oncology and maternal-child health work. She is a writer, editor, and book reviewer who drinks way too much coffee. She is a new-ish mom, so the coffee comes in extra handy. Twitter:  @IvyTarHeelJaime

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My son is in preschool, and after a prior misdiagnosis, he was finally diagnosed with two language disorders, both fairly severe. I say this because finding a preschool for him was not easy—or should I say, finding a preschool that would give him a chance was not easy. Unlike my friends, I did not have my pick of schools that I could simply tour and then apply to. Many stopped emailing or never called back once they heard about his challenges. I eventually found one for him last year that has been amazing and has enabled him to grow and thrive. This year, in addition to the preschool he was at last year, he started a half day in an inclusion classroom at a public school, and for us—I specifically say for us —it was not the best experience. The school was not well-versed in language disorders and the curriculum highlighted his language difficulties, since it was heavily verbal-language based. There was a push toward writing readiness and academics that made me very uncomfortable (remember, this is preschool , my son is 3.5), and not once did he ever bring home crafts or art projects they did in the inclusion class—because they didn’t do any .

To make a long story short, I ended up withdrawing my son from the public school and he is now in his original preschool full-time. He does age-appropriate activities, plays outside with his friends, comes home with more arts and crafts projects than I know what to do with, loves books and always wants to read together, and doesn’t want to leave when I pick him up. I have no doubt that this was the right move for us right now. (And I cannot emphasize enough that this is not against public schools, but simply my decision for us at this moment). But this wasn’t a decision I made lightly, and I found myself wanting to learn more about education in general. Before I met with the child study team and made my decision, I did my research.

In addition to reading articles and reports, I started reading more and more about the changing environments of schools, the push toward earlier academic readiness, and surprisingly, non-traditional modes of education. I say surprisingly because both of my parents were Special Ed educators in the public school system and I never had to think about or question the traditional educational model before. With my son, I started to realize that the traditional educational system may not always work for everyone, and that’s okay—there are other options out there. I buried myself in books, as I usually do, and my initial reading led me to even more reading, which led me to Instagram accounts, which circled back to more books that I found on IG, and to be honest, I have more books about education that I want to read than I ever expected.

In my reading about education and especially nontraditional modes of education, I ended up reading a lot about homeschooling, unschooling, forest schooling, and different curricula like Waldorf, Montessori, and Charlotte Mason. I’m still working my way through a large pile.

I will say this: the literature I’ve found is overwhelmingly white. There’s a lot to unpack with this, but there’s a fair amount of privilege to be able to take your child out of the traditional school system. Forest schools and private schools cost money. Homeschooling or unschooling requires a parent to be home, and thus not working outside the home at a full-time job (or at least having the kind of job with flexibility). There is more diversity in various Instagram accounts that I found—possibly because while the published books are mostly by white individuals, there has been an increase in diverse homeschoolers. In the last 15 years, the number of Black homeschoolers in the U.S. has more than doubled, to nearly 220,000. Social media and websites reflect this diversity; the published material on this subject does not. Some of those social media accounts include @amuslimhomeschool, @liberated_homescholars, @brick_city_homeschool, @themomtrotter, @ourhomeschoolheaven, and @happymuslimhomeschool.

Here are some of the books that I’ve read thus far that have been eye-opening to me, and are interesting reads if you want different perspectives on education.

Rethinking School: How to Take Charge of Your Child’s Education by Susan Wise Bauer

This was one of the first books I read when I was questioning whether to keep my son in the inclusion classroom, and it was super interesting. It gave me a history of the modern traditional educational system, how it works, and how it doesn’t work for all kids. There was a wealth of information about alternatives to traditional schooling, and I appreciated that there was information about learning disabilities and other challenges, and that it wasn’t only geared toward parents of typical, high-achieving children. It doesn’t push for homeschooling or any other agenda; it merely provides the reader with tools to better understand the education system and how to help your child get what they need out of it in order to thrive. It gives parents tools for starting discussions with counselors or case managers, and ways to advocate for your child in the education system.

The One World Schoolhouse: Education Reimagined by Salman Khan

If you have children, you’re probably familiar with—or at least heard of —Khan Academy. Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization whose website says its mission is “to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere.” They have courses galore, and I know many homeschoolers who use KA for supplementing their curriculum or for courses in things their children find fascinating. But it’s also for anyone who wants to learn something! In this book, Khan discusses the education system (much like Bauer does in the above book) and ways to change the education system and classrooms for the better. He addresses the weaknesses in the American school system and how this can change with “mastery learning.” His ideas aren’t for everyone, but this book provides a lot of food for thought and interesting ideas for revamping education.

The Call of the Wild + Free: Reclaiming Wonder in Your Child’s Education by Ainsley Arment

I got this book in the mail a week or two before school started this year, and it felt like a sign. I was already wary about the new curriculum that was being piloted, and thinking about future options for later schooling, which included homeschool. Arment is the founder of Wild + Free, an online homeschooling community that focuses on nature, books, the freedom to concentrate on hobbies and interests, and keeping childhood playful. This book is full of gorgeous pictures and gives an overall introduction to homeschooling and various options and curricula. It’s a mix of memoir and handbook, and while it’s definitely not a catch-all homeschool book, it’s a good resource to have, especially if you’re just thinking about homeschooling or starting out.

The Brave Learner: Finding Everyday Magic in Homeschool, Learning, and Life by Julie Bogart

If you ask people in Facebook homeschool groups what books you should read if you’re just starting out, The Brave Learner is going to be a suggestion you’ll hear over and over again—but really, this isn’t even just for homeschoolers. This book can also be used to help parents nurture their children’s love of learning and creativity in general, even if they’re not homeschooled. That’s how versatile this book is. Bogart writes in a highly accessible way, is down-to-earth, and approaches homeschooling and education from a relaxed, realistic perspective. She gives gentle nudges to parents to push through comfort zones and try new things while refraining from judgment. The online communities on Facebook and her social media accounts are also great supplements to the book.

A Year of Forest School: Outdoor Play and Skill-building Fun for Every Season by Jane Worroll

Forest school is an educational approach that centers learning around positive outdoor experiences. Play-based learning and free play is intertwined with sustainability practices, and natural resources are used to encourage children’s learning, especially emotional intelligence, confidence, and self-esteem. Especially since I’m not a very outdoorsy person, this book has specific activities and instructions that make it easy to do outdoor activities. One main idea of forest school is getting outside every day, no matter the weather. There is no bad weather, just bad clothing. With that in mind, this book has activities to do outside year-round, with the activities structured around the seasons to get your child attuned to nature. Whether you homeschool or not, this book is a good pick if you want to get out more with your child.

Creative Schools: The Grassroots Revolution That’s Transforming Education by Ken Robinson

Sir Ken Robinson used to have the most watched TED Talk of all time (on whether schools kill creativity); while I’m not sure if this is still true, his talk is still one of the top 25 most watched—for good reason. In this book, he looks at schools: standardized testing companies are hugely profiting, teachers are stressed to the max, children are stressed and unhappy, and schools are in disrepair (in more ways than one). Robinson talks with educators and administrators on the front lines and has come up with a way to move forward and change the system for the better. He argues that all the existing school reform efforts don’t actually understand how children learn or how good schools work, and we need to change the way we think about education before we can do anything else. I’m really enjoying this one and looking forward to reading his other books.

Free to Learn: Why Unleashing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life by Peter Gray

If you’re interested in learning more about unschooling, this book is one to pick up. Gray is a developmental psychologist and in this book, he argues that free play is the main avenue for children learning how to problem solve, socialize, build resilience, and generally become self-reliant. This is a tenet of self-directed learning, and he weaves together psychology, anthropology, and history to show why this is so important for children.

Parenting is hard. If you’re like me and turn to books for help or ideas, check out this post on 50 must-read parenting books , and this post on Montessori and Waldorf parenting books .

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Discover Best American Education System Books: 20 Key Titles, 2024 Updated

Are you interested in diving deeper into the complexities of the American education system? Look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the 20 best books about the American education system that will provide you with insightful perspectives, thought-provoking analysis, and a comprehensive understanding of the challenges and triumphs within the educational landscape. Whether you’re an educator, student, parent, or simply curious about the state of education in America, these books on the American education system are sure to captivate and enlighten you.

• 1 The Death and Life of the Great American School System
• 2 The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession
• 3 The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America
• 4 The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better
• 5 The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux
• 6 The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness
• 7 The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future
• 8 The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again
• 9 The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates
• 10 The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness
• 11 The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It
• 12 The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere
• 13 The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Workers’ Movement
• 14 The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do
• 15 The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money
• 16 The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men
• 17 The Myth of the Spoiled Child: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Children and Parenting
• 18 The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers
• 19 Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools
• 20 The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School
• 21 Conclusion

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The Death and Life of the Great American School System

By diane ravitch.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch is a thought-provoking book on the state of education in the United States. Ravitch, a former advocate of education reform, provides a critical analysis of the American education system, offering insight into the challenges and pitfalls it faces. She delves into the impact of standardized testing, charter schools, and privatization on the quality of education, while also exploring the history and evolution of these issues. Through rigorous research and compelling arguments, Ravitch presents a compelling case for reevaluating the current direction of the American education system. This book about the American education system offers a fresh perspective and raises important questions about the future of education in the United States.

The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession

By dana goldstein.

The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein is a captivating book about the American education system that delves into the complex history of teaching in the United States. Goldstein explores the evolution of the teaching profession, from the early days of the common school movement to the modern-day debates over teacher tenure and standardized testing. Through a compelling narrative, she chronicles the struggles and triumphs of educators throughout history, shedding light on the challenges they have faced and the impact of their work on the American education system. This thought-provoking book on the American education system offers a comprehensive look at the societal and political forces that have shaped the teaching profession, making it a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of education in America.

The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America

By jonathan kozol.

The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol is a compelling book about the American education system. Kozol reveals the systematic segregation and inequality that still exists within our schools, creating a modern-day form of apartheid. He exposes the unjust treatment of minority students, the lack of resources in their schools, and the perpetuation of racial and economic disparities. Through extensive research and interviews, Kozol sheds light on the harsh realities of our education system and calls for urgent action to address these issues. This eye-opening book on the American education system challenges readers to confront the deep-seated inequalities that continue to plague our schools and communities.

The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better

By daniel koretz.

The Testing Charade by Daniel Koretz is a thought-provoking book on the American education system that challenges the widespread use of standardized testing as a measure of school effectiveness. Koretz argues that the emphasis on high-stakes testing has led to a “charade” in which schools and educators prioritize test preparation over genuine learning. He delves into the unintended consequences of this approach, such as teaching to the test and narrowing the curriculum, and explores the ways in which testing can be manipulated to inflate scores without actually improving educational outcomes. Through compelling research and real-world examples, Koretz sheds light on the complexities of the education system and offers a critical examination of the impact of testing on students, teachers, and schools. This book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the challenges and complexities of standardized testing in schools.

The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux

By cathy n. davidson.

The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux by Cathy N. Davidson is a thought-provoking book that challenges the traditional education system and offers innovative solutions to prepare students for the rapidly changing world. Davidson advocates for a shift from the outdated model of education to one that embraces collaboration, creativity, and adaptability. She explores the need for personalized learning, digital literacy, and a curriculum that reflects the modern workforce. Through real-life examples and research-based insights, Davidson presents a compelling case for reimagining the American education system to better serve the needs of students and society as a whole. This book about the American education system is a must-read for educators, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of education.

The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness

By todd rose.

The End of Average is a thought-provoking book on the American education system that challenges the traditional notion of the ‘average’ student. Author Todd Rose argues that our current system is designed around the idea of an ‘average’ student, which ultimately fails to account for the individuality and unique strengths of each student. Rose presents a compelling case for embracing the concept of individuality and argues that by doing so, we can create a more inclusive and effective education system. This book about the American education system provides a fresh perspective on how we can better serve students and prepare them for success in a world that values diversity and individuality. The End of Average is a must-read for anyone interested in rethinking the way we approach education.

The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future

By linda darling-hammond.

The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future by Linda Darling-Hammond is a thought-provoking book about the American education system. It delves into the challenges and opportunities facing education in the 21st century, emphasizing the importance of equity in shaping the future of our society. Darling-Hammond provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state of education in the United States, highlighting the disparities that exist and the impact they have on students. She offers insights into how the education system can be transformed to provide equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their background. With a focus on equity and social justice, this American education system book presents a compelling argument for reimagining education to ensure a brighter future for all.

The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again

By robert w. mcchesney and john nichols.

The Death and Life of American Journalism by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols is a thought-provoking book that delves into the challenges facing the media industry in the United States. The authors argue that the decline of journalism is a threat to democracy and suggest a media revolution to revive it. They examine the impact of corporate ownership and the rise of digital technologies on the quality of journalism, while also proposing solutions to address these issues. This book sheds light on the crucial role of journalism in informing the public and holding power to account, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the state of the media in the United States.

The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates

By daniel golden.

The Price of Admission by Daniel Golden is a revealing book on American education system that exposes the corrupt practices of elite colleges in the United States. Golden delves into the ways in which wealthy and influential families use their resources to secure spots for their children at prestigious universities, often at the expense of more deserving, less privileged students. Through meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Golden uncovers the preferential treatment, legacy admissions, and backdoor influence that perpetuate inequality in higher education. This eye-opening book about American education system sheds light on the unfair advantages enjoyed by the wealthy and powerful, while also highlighting the talented individuals who are unjustly excluded from elite institutions. The Price of Admission is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the complexities of the American education system.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness

By michelle alexander.

The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander is a groundbreaking book that examines the systematic discrimination and oppression within the American justice system. Alexander argues that the mass incarceration of black and brown individuals has created a new racial caste system, reminiscent of the Jim Crow era. She highlights how the war on drugs and tough-on-crime policies have disproportionately targeted and devastated communities of color, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and disenfranchisement. The book sheds light on the racial inequalities deeply ingrained in the criminal justice system and calls for a reevaluation of policies that perpetuate these injustices. With its powerful message and meticulous research, The New Jim Crow is a thought-provoking and essential read for anyone interested in understanding the issues surrounding mass incarceration and its impact on marginalized communities.

The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It

By tony wagner.

The Global Achievement Gap by Tony Wagner is a thought-provoking book about the challenges facing the education system in the United States. The author argues that even the best schools are failing to teach students the essential skills they need to succeed in the modern world. Wagner identifies seven key survival skills that are often overlooked in traditional education, including critical thinking, collaboration, and adaptability. Through extensive research and real-life examples, he highlights the urgent need for a shift in educational priorities to better prepare students for the demands of the 21st century. This eye-opening book is a must-read for anyone interested in the state of the American education system and what can be done to improve it.

The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere

By kevin carey.

The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere by Kevin Carey is a thought-provoking book on the American education system, exploring the potential transformation of higher education. Carey presents the concept of the “University of Everywhere,” a vision of a world where anyone can access high-quality education through digital technology, disrupting traditional higher education models. This book about the American education system delves into the challenges and opportunities posed by online learning, MOOCs, and other innovative approaches. Carey argues for a shift towards a more flexible, affordable, and inclusive higher education system, challenging the traditional notions of college and paving the way for a new era of learning. The End of College offers a compelling and insightful perspective on the future of education, making it a must-read for anyone interested in the evolution of the American education system.

The Death and Life of American Labor: Toward a New Workers’ Movement

By stanley aronowitz.

The Death and Life of American Labor by Stanley Aronowitz is a thought-provoking exploration of the challenges facing the labor movement in the United States. Aronowitz provides a comprehensive analysis of the decline of organized labor and offers insightful perspectives on the potential for a revitalized workers’ movement. He delves into the historical and social factors that have contributed to the erosion of labor power, while also presenting innovative ideas for a new approach to organizing and advocating for workers’ rights. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the future of the labor movement and the changing dynamics of the workforce in America. Aronowitz’s compelling narrative and compelling arguments make this an essential read for those seeking to understand the complexities of the labor landscape in the United States.

The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do

By peg tyre.

The Trouble with Boys: A Surprising Report Card on Our Sons, Their Problems at School, and What Parents and Educators Must Do by Peg Tyre is an eye-opening book on the challenges that boys face in the American education system. Tyre delves into the reasons behind the struggles that many boys experience in school, including issues with reading, behavior, and motivation. She explores the ways in which traditional educational approaches may not cater to the needs of boys, and offers insights and strategies for parents and educators to support and empower boys in their academic journey. This thought-provoking book about the American education system provides a fresh perspective on the challenges facing boys in school and offers practical solutions to address these issues.

The Case Against Education: Why the Education System Is a Waste of Time and Money

By bryan caplan.

The Case Against Education by Bryan Caplan is a thought-provoking book that challenges the traditional beliefs about the value of the education system. Caplan argues that the American education system is a waste of time and money, and that the emphasis on formal education does not necessarily lead to economic success or intellectual growth. He questions the return on investment for individuals and society as a whole, and proposes that much of what is taught in schools is irrelevant to real-world skills and knowledge. With a mix of data, research, and personal anecdotes, Caplan presents a compelling case for rethinking our approach to education. This book about the American education system is sure to spark debate and inspire readers to consider the true purpose and value of education.

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men

By christina hoff sommers.

The War Against Boys: How Misguided Policies Are Harming Our Young Men by Christina Hoff Sommers is a thought-provoking book about the challenges facing young men in the American education system. Sommers argues that boys are being disadvantaged by well-intentioned policies and educational practices that focus on helping girls succeed, leading to a troubling gender gap in academic achievement and opportunities. Through extensive research and analysis, the author sheds light on the ways in which boys are falling behind and offers insightful recommendations for addressing these issues. This book provides a compelling and important perspective on the state of the education system in America, and it is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding and improving the experiences of young men in schools.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child: Challenging the Conventional Wisdom about Children and Parenting

By alfie kohn.

The Myth of the Spoiled Child challenges the conventional wisdom about children and parenting in the United States. Author Alfie Kohn presents a thought-provoking analysis of the American education system, exploring the underlying beliefs and practices that shape our attitudes toward children and parenting. Kohn debunks the idea of the “spoiled child” and argues that it is our cultural obsession with control and compliance that is actually detrimental to children’s well-being. Through engaging storytelling and compelling research, Kohn challenges readers to reconsider their assumptions about raising and educating children. This book about the American education system offers a fresh perspective on parenting and advocates for a more compassionate and respectful approach to nurturing children’s development.

The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck—101 Extraordinary Solutions for Parents and Teachers

By ron clark.

The End of Molasses Classes by Ron Clark is a transformative book on the American education system that offers 101 innovative solutions for parents and teachers. Clark, an award-winning educator, shares his experiences and insights to help children break free from the traditional, slow-paced learning environment often found in schools. He provides practical tips and strategies for creating an engaging, dynamic classroom environment that fosters creativity, critical thinking, and a love for learning. Through his engaging storytelling and real-life examples, Clark inspires readers to challenge the status quo and implement new approaches to teaching and parenting. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or education enthusiast, this book about the American education system is a must-read for anyone looking to revolutionize the way we educate our children.

Savage Inequalities: Children in America’s Schools

Savage Inequalities by Jonathan Kozol is a compelling book on the American education system that sheds light on the disparities and injustices present in the nation’s schools. Kozol takes readers on a journey through various schools in different communities, exposing the harsh realities faced by children in underprivileged areas. Through powerful anecdotes and eye-opening statistics, the author reveals how factors such as race, poverty, and funding play a significant role in perpetuating inequality within the American education system. Kozol’s poignant storytelling and impassioned advocacy for change make this book about the American education system a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the challenges and obstacles that students and educators face in our society.

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School

By neil postman.

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School by Neil Postman is a thought-provoking critique of the current state of the American education system. Postman argues that the traditional goals of education, such as teaching students to think critically and understand the complexities of the world, have been replaced by a focus on standardized testing and job preparation. He suggests that this shift has led to a decline in the quality of education and the loss of a sense of purpose for both students and teachers. Postman calls for a reevaluation of the value of school and a return to a more holistic and meaningful approach to education. This book provides a compelling and urgent analysis of the challenges facing the American education system and offers insightful solutions for redefining its purpose.

In conclusion, these 20 books about the American education system offer valuable insights into its history, challenges, and potential solutions. Whether you are an educator, parent, student, or policymaker, these books provide a comprehensive understanding of the complexities within the American education system and offer thought-provoking perspectives on how to improve it.

Which american education system book is best?

The best book on american education system can vary with personal preference, but three widely recommended titles are:

• The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch ,
• The Teacher Wars: A History of America’s Most Embattled Profession by Dana Goldstein ,
• The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol .

Each offers valuable insights and could be a great starting point.

What are the best books to learn about american education system?

For those looking to learn about american education system, there is a wealth of literature that can provide a comprehensive understanding of the subject. Some of the most highly recommended books include:

• The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol ,
• The Testing Charade: Pretending to Make Schools Better by Daniel Koretz ,
• The New Education: How to Revolutionize the University to Prepare Students for a World in Flux by Cathy N. Davidson ,
• The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose ,
• The Flat World and Education: How America’s Commitment to Equity Will Determine Our Future by Linda Darling-Hammond ,
• The Death and Life of American Journalism: The Media Revolution That Will Begin the World Again by Robert W. McChesney and John Nichols ,
• The Price of Admission: How America’s Ruling Class Buys Its Way into Elite Colleges—and Who Gets Left Outside the Gates by Daniel Golden ,
• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander

These books offer a range of perspectives on american education system, covering various aspects and approaches to the subject.

What are the best books on american education system?

The best books on american education system include:

• The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It by Tony Wagner ,
• The End of College: Creating the Future of Learning and the University of Everywhere by Kevin Carey ,
• The End of Average: How We Succeed in a World That Values Sameness by Todd Rose .

Each offers unique insights into the subject. While these books on the topic of american education system are highly regarded, it’s important to note that any list of ‘best’ books is subjective and reflects a range of opinions.

What are the best american education system books of all time?

Choosing the best american education system books of all time can vary depending on who you ask, but seven titles that are often celebrated include

• The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander ,
• and The Global Achievement Gap: Why Even Our Best Schools Don’t Teach the New Survival Skills Our Children Need—and What We Can Do About It by Tony Wagner .

Each of these books has made a significant impact in the field of american education system and continues to be influential today.

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Thought-Provoking Books for Educators in 2022

Things are tough right now in education. The pandemic exposed and intensified the cracks in a system that has long been in need of an overhaul.

Our favorite books this year offer not only inspiration and hope, but also practical things education professionals can do to change the system. As we reviewed the books, we realized that reading them in a particular order offered a “macro” to “micro” path forward, starting with Steven C. Rockefeller’s Spiritual Democracy and Our Schools . This beautifully written book offers a vision of what the U.S. (and other democracies) can become, and education’s role in making that vision a reality.

We suggest that you next read Let Your Light Shine for a reality check of how far we still have to go. Sharing the powerful origin story of the Holistic Life Foundation, the authors hold nothing back as they talk about the impact of systemic racism and structural inequities on youth—and how yoga, mindfulness, and a lot of love can help heal.

With a vision and a reality check in place, the remaining three books are about rolling up our sleeves and digging into the work of redoing our educational system. The highly practical Reconnect focuses on how educators can create classrooms of belonging, centering on specific techniques, virtue development, and group engagement. Cultivating Kindness reminds us of the need for and power of kindness in schools—something that makes the path forward a little gentler. And, finally, Surviving Teacher Burnout gives educators research-based tools and insights for building their own inner resilience—so they can do the hard work that transforming education takes.

Education is on the cusp of dramatically shifting how we teach our students. We hope these books offer new ways of seeing and thinking about education, and the inspiration to keep going.

Spiritual Democracy and Our Schools: Renewing the American Spirit With Education for the Whole Child , by Steven C. Rockefeller

At the root of America’s disunity, argues scholar Steven Rockefeller, is “the erosion and weakening of America’s moral and spiritual foundation, reflecting estrangement from our better selves and one another and the larger community of life on Earth.” The issues we face stem from our failure “to respect and honor the inherent dignity and equal rights of the other.” In other words, “America is a nation in search of its soul.”

Rockefeller urges a renewed sense of shared values and common purpose of living out the ideals of democracy. Integrating these ideals into education with “relational spirituality” (foundational human values like respect, care, and gratitude) can help to solve the problems we face and lay a firm foundation for a more unified nation. That’s because it will set students “on the path to authentic freedom, responsible democratic citizenship, and caring, creative leadership of their own lives and their communities.”

Science-based educational initiatives such as social-emotional learning, mindfulness, and the burgeoning “spirituality in education” field play a key role in carrying out this work.

This free, downloadable book expands on the ideas expressed in the author’s keynote at the first Collaborative for Spirituality in Education conference in 2019, hosted by Teachers College at Columbia University.  For educators who are feeling demoralized, this book reminds us of the bigger “why” of what we do.

In this time of extreme challenge, educators can take heart that they are contributing to the excruciatingly difficult work of rebuilding the foundation of this country. As Rockefeller writes, they are helping to foster “an American democratic culture that cultivates reverence for the mystery of being, a sense of belonging in the universe, gratitude for the gift of life, a love of Earth, and an ethical commitment to respect and care for the greater community of life and to practice sustainable development.” —Vicki Zakrzewski

Let Your Light Shine: How Mindfulness Can Empower Children and Rebuild Communities , by Ali Smith, Atman Smith, and Andres Gonzalez

In 2001, brothers Ali and Atman Smith and their friend Andres Gonzalez started the Holistic Life Foundation to enhance the well-being of low-income, underserved communities through yoga, mindfulness, self-care, and other programming. Let Your Light Shine is the extraordinary story of their journey, with research, practical exercises, and ancient Yogic science and philosophy woven throughout. Hands down, this is one of the best books on the mindfulness-in-education movement I have come across—because it is so honest and real.

The authors argue that “the best solutions are the home-grown solutions,” meaning that the people within a community are best suited to help heal the community. They began their program in the Baltimore neighborhood where Ali and Atman grew up, working with local students who were highly traumatized due to systemic racism, structural inequities, poverty, and many other challenges that no child should ever have to face.

They don’t hold back on how phenomenally challenging this work has been for them. They are adamant that educators must not only have a mindfulness practice of their own, but also have done “the personal work of working through [their] own triggers, traumas, resentments, and fear.” Why? Because “traumatized kids can trigger the *&^% out of you.” But, in the end, they argue that “love is the most powerful force in the universe” and that their work is “creating love zombies; we want to infect people with love and have them go around spreading it—minus all the eating people and stuff.”

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I also appreciated that the authors didn’t shy away from sharing aspects of their own spiritual path. They agree that the spiritual aspects of this work should be kept out of schools, but there is much to be learned from understanding the original wisdom out of which these practices grew. And as research on the importance of cultivating spirituality within students expands, this may be the next chapter in the field.

Overall, the authors’ story is grounded in wisdom, love, humility, vulnerability, and a powerful inner strength cultivated from years of balancing the external work with the internal. I hope you will laugh, cry, and ponder over this book—and then be inspired to do your own inner work so that you can better help others, too. —Vicki Zakrzewski

Reconnect: Building School Culture for Meaning, Purpose, and Belonging , by Doug Lemov, Hilary Lewis, Darryl Williams, and Denarius Frazier

How can we cultivate a sense of belonging and connection at school? This is a question on the hearts of many educators as they face a sharp decline in post-pandemic student learning and well-being. In Reconnect , Doug Lemov (of Teach Like a Champion fame) and his coauthors focus on what belonging can look like and sound like— while students are learning.

Although the authors devote a portion of the book to problematizing cell phone usage, the meat of Reconnect features case studies, free videos, and classroom discussions that model concrete belonging “signals” to “rewire” classrooms and enhance group learning.

For example, some of the techniques they offer include snaps of appreciation, smiles, and “tracking” skills (showing interest through eye contact and body posture). They also emphasize the value of “talking to and not past someone” with discussion role scaffolds like “builder” (“Linking to that point, I think…”), “challenger” (“I disagree with you because…”), and “summarizer” (“The main ideas raised today were…”).

The book’s focus on “social engineering” and the repetition of call-and-response techniques may make some readers uncomfortable, yet Lemov and his team argue that these rituals can have a strong auditory and visual appeal—as a cultural outgrowth of communal chants and songs that create a sense of connectedness.

Lemov and his team also draw on Angela Duckworth’s definition of “virtues” (like gratitude and resilience) as “ways of thinking, feeling and acting that we [can] habitually do that are good for others and good for ourselves.” They prioritize virtue development as a way to enhance school-wide social and emotional learning, and they advise every school to choose five to seven virtues and belonging cues that reflect their own mission, values, and culture.

In Reconnect ’s most inspiring segments, however, the authors highlight examples of positive group synergy, active learning, and deep group engagement (or “ flow ”)—moments where students are jointly absorbed in rich discussions of mathematics. This book helps educators to see that belonging cues and learning techniques can complement and build on each other. —Amy L. Eva

Cultivating Kindness: An Educator’s Guide , by John-Tyler Binfet

The immense need for John-Tyler Binfet’s book Cultivating Kindness: An Educator’s Guide is found in the dedication. When asked by Binfet for a definition of kindness, one student wrote, “Kindness is making someone feel like s/he belongs or feels special. Like the world didn’t make a mistake.”

As human beings, we deeply crave kindness. So much so that kindness is the number-one quality we look for in romantic partners. And yet, in education, kindness often gets the short end of the stick, seen as irrelevant to academic success or too soft for the workplace. However, pointing to years of research—including some of his own—Binfet makes a strong case for cultivating kindness in schools and how it can contribute to student and educator well-being, positive peer relationships, and an inclusive school culture. He also shares examples of how students of all ages describe their experience of kindness, both giving and receiving it from peers and teachers alike. As he wryly points out, helping students to learn, rather than giving them fancy field trips and extra recess time, is how teachers can demonstrate kindness.

In addition to the research, Binfet also includes practical examples of how to foster kindness in students and schools, such as helping students create a “kindness action plan” for performing intentional acts of kindness over a specified amount of time. He notes most students will choose their close friends as recipients of these acts, potentially leaving out students who already feel excluded. Hence, to foster a sense of belonging, educators should encourage students to go beyond their peer group.

My favorite part of the book, however, is Binfet’s discovery of “quiet kindness”—those acts that go unseen and unacknowledged and, as he notes, require advanced social and emotional skills, but ones that students can learn. To me, helping students internalize kindness to such a degree that they don’t look for outer rewards is one of the most powerful ways we can create a kinder world—one in which no one feels like a mistake. —Vicki Zakrzewski

Honorable Mention:

Surviving Teacher Burnout: A Weekly Guide to Build Relationships, Deal with Emotional Exhaustion, and Stay Inspired in the Classroom by Greater Good ’s own Amy L. Eva

Pulling on her experience as both a classroom educator and teacher educator, Amy Eva masterfully weaves together the science and practice for how teachers can build a strong inner life—a life that can help them not just navigate the storms and trials of teaching, but also find renewal and hope in the darkest days. (Only those who have spent time in the classroom can truly understand how hard this work actually is.) Indeed, I wish I had this book when I was training to be a teacher. Not a single professor or master teacher ever mentioned the emotional toll that teaching takes—instead, like many teachers including the author, I learned it the hard way.

Eva provides 52 weeks of topics, from being with difficult emotions to learning to forgive to feeling empathic joy, that include practical exercises and the scientific “why” for each one. This book could and should be woven into teacher education classes—it’s the missing piece that may be the most important part of a preservice teacher’s preparation.

For in-service educators, Eva provides insight into why so many are feeling exhausted and demoralized, but also how to heal and move forward with stronger clarity and the resilience to change a system that no longer works. And for educators who are implementing social-emotional learning—you will have the added benefit of understanding even more the science behind it, helping to deepen your work with students. I have had the pleasure of working closely with the author for over half a decade and I can truly say that the best of her is in this book: Eva’s deep empathy and concern for educators, her ability to connect with her audience and to help them connect with each other, and her extensive and practical knowledge for strengthening the lives of teachers. “Hope doesn’t have to perch quietly in each of our souls,” she writes. “We can share it and live it, collectively. As an African proverb says, ‘If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.’” —Vicki Zakrzewski

About the Authors

Vicki Zakrzewski

Vicki Zakrzewski, Ph.D. , is the education director of the Greater Good Science Center.

Amy L. Eva, Ph.D. , is the associate education director at the Greater Good Science Center. As an educational psychologist and teacher educator with over 25 years in classrooms, she currently writes, presents, and leads online courses focused on student and educator well-being, mindfulness, and courage. Her new book, Surviving Teacher Burnout: A Weekly Guide To Build Resilience, Deal with Emotional Exhaustion, and Stay Inspired in the Classroom, features 52 simple, low-lift strategies for enhancing educators’ social and emotional well-being.

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Wasting Minds: Why Our Education System Is Failing and What We Can Do About It 28565th Edition

Why has successful school reform been so difficult to achieve, despite decades of well-intentioned efforts, endless rhetoric, and billions of dollars of investment? Why do most U.S. schools continue to produce disappointing results? Why is there such a disconnect between the schools we need and the schools we have?

In this thoughtful and insightful book, Ronald A. Wolk tackles these questions head-on, identifying key assumptions that have shaped the debate on school reform for the past several decades, including the emphasis on standards and testing, calls for a longer school day and year, the push to enroll more students in advanced math classes, and the quest to place a highly qualified teacher in every classroom. Backed by research and other evidence, he points out the flaws in each assumption, and then proposes alternative assumptions as the basis for new, innovative schools that would emphasize such elements as

* Individualized instruction, with various pathways for learning; * Real-world contexts for learning; * Performance assessment; * A restructuring of public education to expand preschool; and * Transformation of the teachers' role from instructor to advisor.

Acknowledging that the current system is too entrenched to accept radical reform, Wolk suggests incorporating his assumptions into a separate, parallel strategy for new schools. The result is a provocative proposal for teachers, administrators, policymakers, parents, and others to consider as they contemplate the future of public education in the United States.

• ISBN-10 1416611312
• ISBN-13 978-1416611318
• Edition 28565th
• Publisher ASCD
• Publication date February 18, 2011
• Language English
• Dimensions 5.75 x 0.25 x 8.75 inches
• Print length 199 pages
• See all details

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About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ ASCD; 28565th edition (February 18, 2011)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 199 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1416611312
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1416611318
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.25 x 8.75 inches
• #3,958 in Education Reform & Policy
• #6,694 in History of Education
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Ronald a. wolk.

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Nonfiction Books » Politics & Society

The best books on education and society, recommended by alison wolf.

KCL Professor Alison Wolf is an authority on education and the labour market. She recommends books on education and society, highlighting Icelandic pastoral neo-myth Independent People

The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young

The Harpole Report by James Lloyd Carr

The Economy of Cities by Jane Jacobs

Education and the Working Class by Brian Jackson and Dennis Marsden

Independent People by Halldor Laxness

1 The Rise of the Meritocracy by Michael Young

2 the harpole report by james lloyd carr, 3 the economy of cities by jane jacobs, 4 education and the working class by brian jackson and dennis marsden, 5 independent people by halldor laxness.

W hy are you recommending that we read Michael Young’s famous 1958 work, The Rise of the Meritocracy? Is it still relevant?

What he describes probably couldn’t quite happen because he implies that we could have this talent to see absolutely clearly what people’s innate abilities were. The idea is that you would educate the people who are really able for elite positions, and end up with a society that is, first, just as ruthless as anything that was based on the family crest on your shield; second, destructive of individual self-respect, and third, intolerable to large numbers of parents.

Intolerable because some must fall down the ladder as well as some climbing up it?

Yes, but also intolerable because it’s all your fault, there is nothing you can do about it. Status is just about whether you are any good, which is just as horrendous as if it’s all to do with whether you’ve got the right colour skin or the right family tree. The idea that you are either born as one of the chosen or not is actually inherent in this notion of meritocracy.

Michael Young was interested in the motives that all human beings have and the way that societies change. I don’t think you ever could end up with a society in which people were all labelled precisely at birth and I don’t suppose for a moment Michael Young thought you could either. But he was writing a Gulliver’s Travels-type satire. And as a satire I think it’s brilliant. As a social scientist I think he captures superbly this interaction between how individuals feel and behave and larger social development, and that’s my own abiding interest. People make choices, they try to do the best thing for themselves, they try to do the best thing for their families. This is often not what bureaucrats in Whitehall expect and want them to do, but that’s how things get determined.

Do you think the reason people have seized on the word meritocracy to use in a non-satirical way here in the UK is because we have a consensus that we are just too far from a system in which people’s abilities bear any relation to their status?

It is true that we have got more worried about this recently, and it has been a big political issue – although not only here. The degree to which individuals all have opportunities is something that concerns most societies. I’m not sure why we are worried about our own record on this more than other countries. We have all this stuff about how the UK has uniquely bad social mobility but this is actually over the top: it depends which data you use, and we don’t have very good measures or information for most of the world, including much of Europe.

So from a recently republished book to one that was published by the author himself – J L Carr’s The Harpole Report.

J L Carr was another amazing human being. I have devoured every novel he has ever written, all superb and very idiosyncratic. The Harpole Report is a very funny satirical novel, very short. It captures what is eternal about a state-funded school system and also a time that seems almost innocent in the degree to which schools were left alone to do whatever they were doing. There’s also the endless war between the layers of the hierarchy, the teachers and the head, and then the head and the caretaker. I talked to one newly appointed head of a large high school in the States who said, ‘The first thing I do in any school is to sack the janitor, and that way I have lots of friends from day one.’

The janitor is an alternative seat of power that needs to be neutralised?

The Harpole Report is brilliant on that, brilliant on back-covering at every level, on how to write effective memos to the local authority. But it also makes you feel amazingly nostalgic because this a school in which they are not employing, as they would be now, three full-time administrative assistants just to collect data to send back to Whitehall, and in which there are inspectors, but Ofsted has not been dreamt of. It is a combination of the everlasting and the, ‘Oh my God, was it really like that?’ It was almost Eden-like if we’d only realised.

It sounds idyllic. So why are you taking us next into the urban environment with The Economy of Cities by Jane Jacobs, and not her most famous book?

I think everyone has heard of The Death and Life of American Cities, which changed the way we think about cities. Through that book she stopped, not single-handedly of course, the destruction of inner-city neighbourhoods by driving great highways through them. But she was also an extraordinary woman in a whole range of ways: she had very little conventional academic background, she thought for herself and she came to her own conclusions. She basically thought, which I agree with, that cities are the source of everything that’s good in life. Her argument was that cities, which in the early days were just small trading and administrative posts, generated agriculture, not vice versa; because there was a market for something if you started proper production.

So I chose this book rather than Death and Life because it is actually about something much broader – the role of cities in the whole of human history and just how critical they are. When we are feeling down we all go and buy Country Living and dream about living on an isolated farm. But actually cities are where the ideas all come from, where all the wealth comes from. They are also much more environmentally friendly because you use much less energy if you live in the city than if you live out in the countryside.

Your next choice, Education and the Working Class, is a much more focused look at English education and social class.

This is one of the few books about education that you can recommend to the general reader – it is based on in-depth interviews with 88 working-class families after their children had been through the grammar school system after the Second World War, when free secondary education was really opened up. Again, I think what it captures is a combination of the eternal and an England that has completely vanished. But it also exposes the complexities and the reality of social mobility. The sorts of families these children came from, the sorts of people they became – it gives you far more of a real feeling both for what was achieved but also the human cost. There was a gulf that was often created between socially mobile kids and their families, a conflict within families about whether they wanted their children to succeed or not.

Social mobility is such an issue in this country, it goes back to the fact that we have had this gigantic revolution in our education system several times over, which is more than almost anywhere else. And people who experienced one system are aware of what was lost, both bad and good, in a way that people in countries that have experienced much less dramatic change are not.

I think with the grammar schools, what people remember, even though this wasn’t the predominant aspect of it, were the children for whom their lives were completely changed. I suppose if you look at English history there has always been – even if small and narrow – a path by which a certain number of very talented children could progress. Most social mobility happens very gradually: your parents get a bit further than your grandparents and you want your children to get a bit further than you. But there has always been this belief that some children should be identified and encouraged and helped up. And that was after all the origin of most of the public schools.

I think that one of the reasons people do get so upset about grammar schools is that we feel we’ve lost this opportunity for the very bright and the very determined to make a leap. I’m not advocating a return to grammar schools because the 11-plus was brutal – it was a system that made the majority of 11-year-olds feel that their life was over in most respects. But I think we feel very strongly that we have lost something that was symbolically important and symbols matter in a society.

You have been a critic of mass university expansion, but isn’t it important to do that for, as you say, symbolic reasons, to expand opportunities? And to affect how individuals feel about their own life chances?

So why did you decide to conclude your reading list with this Icelandic novel, Independent People?

Here are five books with something to say, not just about education but about people – all five make us realise how different our societies are from how they were. Independent People is the book that has just bowled me over in the last couple of years, more than anything else I’ve read. It is incredibly moving, about a poor Icelandic farmer who does not want to be dependent on anyone for anything. And that is his overriding value – a very classic value of small, self-supporting peasant farmers. They have this integrity and courage as well as this drive to independence. It is set in Iceland at a time when it was much poorer. The country has had a miserable history in many ways, but it’s not really about that. The book is great because of the author’s ability to create a world utterly different from ours, with a value system so different but also so totally human. I don’t know why he is not better known – he clearly is not obscure, he did win the Nobel Prize. But why hasn’t the whole of Britain read him? It is long, though – Independent People is for when you have a large chunk of time.

A true Nordic saga?

Yes, and I suppose there is an education theme here – the main character is a poet as well as a farmer. In most societies that do well there does tend to be a history of people being educated. And it is often either because they were great Bible readers or, as in the case of Iceland, there is this ongoing literary tradition of the sagas. Many societies have had oral poets. I know I’m notorious now for saying that you don’t grow an economy just by upping your education spending, but I don’t mean to suggest that education doesn’t matter. It matters enormously, but it’s in a much more subtle way. So if you want to find some social lesson here, what the novel does bring home to you is that the Nordic countries, which now are seen as such an enormous success across the world, also have this very distinctive past in terms of religion and literacy.

February 22, 2010

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Alison Wolf

Alison Wolf is a professor at King's College London and an authority on education and the labour market.

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