Synopses & Reviews
In this lively, provocative and well-researched book” (Theodore Sizer), AlTe Kohn builds a powerful argument against the back to basics” philosophy of teaching and simplistic demands to raise the bar.” Drawing on stories from real classrooms and extensive research, Kohn shows parents, educators, and others interested in the debate how schools can help students explore ideas rather than filling them with forgettable facts and preparing them for standardized tests.
Here at last is a book that challenges the two dominant forces in American education: an aggressive nostalgia for traditional teaching (If it was bad enough for me, its bad enough for my kids”) and a heavy-handed push for Tougher Standards.
Review
Linda Perlstein comments that "the activities that he suggests are wonderful" and that Alphie's is "an inspiring philosophy."
Review
upon the mad excesses of the educational
Review
a powerful, crisply written assault
Review
"The Schools Our Children Deserve is a very important achievement, a powerful assault upon the mad excesses of the educational standards movement. It is a remarkable book that should become a classic in the field." -- Jonathan Kozol, author of Savage Inequalities
Review
A very important achievement a powerful, crisply written assault upon the mad excesses of the educational standards movement.” -- Jonathan Kozol
Alfie Kohn forces readers to ask what our children are doing in school and what skills they really need to succeed in life. If youre a parent or concerned citizen, this book ought to be on your list.”
The Washington Times
Linda Perlstein comments that "the activities that he suggests are wonderful" and that Alphie's is "an inspiring philosophy." The Washington Post
"The Schools Our Children Deserve is a very important achievement, a powerful assault upon the mad excesses of the educational standards movement. It is a remarkable book that should become a classic in the field." -- Jonathan Kozol, author of Savage Inequalities
"The Schools Our Children Deserve forces us to reconsider most of what we thought we knew about education -- about homework and standardized testing, about phonics and what makes a good teacher. I want to hand this book to every parent in America and say, 'Before you send your child to school tomorrow, you must read this!'" -- Deborah Meier, educational reformer and author of The Power of Their Ideas: Lessons for America from a Small School in Harlem
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 303-332) and index.
About the Author
Alfie Kohn's six previous books include Punished by Rewards and No Contest: The Case Against Competition, as well as Beyond Displine and What to Look for in a Classroom. Descrilbed by Time magazine last year as "perhaps the country's most outspoken critic of educational fixation on grades and test scores," he is a popular lecturer, speaker to teachers, parents, and reasearchers accross the country. The author currently resides in Belmont, Massachusetts.