Synopses & Reviews
"Fulfilling the promise of public education is the reason that so many schools and districts are now working desperately to find ways to close the achievement gap. The persistence of wide disparities in achievement that correspond with the race and class backgrounds of students serves as a reminder that America remains a deeply divided nation, a place where the lines separating the haves and the have-nots are manifest in every facet of our lives."
from the Preface
In this groundbreaking book, co-editors Pedro Noguera and Jean Yonemura Wing and their collaborators investigated the dynamics of race and achievement at Berkeley High Schoola large public high school that the New York Times called "the most integrated high school in America." Berkeley's diverse student population clearly illustrates the "achievement gap" phenomenon in our schools. Unfinished Business brings to light the hidden inequities of schoolswhere cultural attitudes, academic tracking, curricular access, and after-school activities serve as sorting mechanisms that set students on paths of success or failure.
Unfinished Business examines the results of the Berkeley High School Diversity Project, a six year research and organizing project that brought together high school students, parents, teachers, staff, and university researchers to explore how a school and a community can act together to address the racial disparities that exist in academic performance. The book explores what factors contribute to the disparity in academic achievement between students of different racial and class backgrounds, and identifies the factors that are responsible for the racial separation of students within the school.
Unfinished Business analyzes the successes and failures the project members encountered during their work and describes the revelations and insights they gained during the project. While the task of closing the achievement gap is daunting, Unfinished Business explains the concrete steps that parents, educators, and the larger community can take to help close the education gap in their community.
Review
"Pedro A. Noguera and Jean Yonemura Wing (2006) in their edited volume,
Unfinished Business: Closing the Racial Achievement Gap in Our Schools, address this ongoing problem of what it will take to fulfill the promise of education reform and educate all students to high levels -- using the Berkeley High School Diversity Project as a case study.... The editors focus on the possibilities for achieving these lofty goals through public education, arguably our nation's most equitable and democratic institution." (
Teachers College Record, October 2006)
"Unfinished Business was written because of the belief that public education is vital for a healthy democracy and that schools can play a decisive role in making our nation less divided and fractured on the basis of race, class, culture, gender, and language." (Teachers College Record, October 2006)
Synopsis
In this groundbreaking book, co-editors Pedro Noguera and Jean Yonemura Wing, and their collaborators investigated the dynamics of race and achievement at Berkeley High School–a large public high school that the New York Times called "the most integrated high school in America." Berkeley's diverse student population clearly illustrates the "achievement gap" phenomenon in our schools. Unfinished Business brings to light the hidden inequities of schools–where cultural attitudes, academic tracking, curricular access, and after-school activities serve as sorting mechanisms that set students on paths of success or failure.
Synopsis
Gain invaluable insights into the hospital system and its challenges, assessment, and continuous improvement of quality of care, hospitals, regulations, public policy and more. This concise but comprehensive book helps trustees ensure that their hospital continues to provide the right services effectively - an indispensable text for trustees!
About the Author
Pedro A. Noguera is a professor in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and the co-director of the Institute for the Study of Globalization and Education in Metropolitan Settings.
Jean Yonemura Wing is Manager of Research and Best Practices for the New School Development Group of the Oakland Unified School District.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments v
Preface ix
Preface to the Paperback Edition xvii
The Editors xxvii
Part One: The Structure and Culture of Inequality in Schools 1
Introduction: Unfinished Business: Closing the Achievement Gap at Berkeley High School 3
Pedro A. Noguera, Jean Yonemura Wing
1 Structuring Inequality at Berkeley High 29
Beth C. Rubin, Jean Yonemura Wing, Pedro A. Noguera, Emma Haydée Fuentes, Daniel D. Liou, Alicia P. Rodriguez, Lance T. McCready
2 Integration Across Campus, Segregation Across Classrooms: A Close-up Look at Privilege 87
Jean Yonemura Wing
3 The Discipline Gap and the Normalization of Failure 121
Anne Gregory, Kysa Nygreen, Dana Michiko Moran
Part Two: Agency in the Fight for Equity 151
4 Changing Teacher Practice and Student Outcomes 153
Pharmicia M. Mosely
Teacher Voices: Dana Michiko Moran, LaShawn Routé Chatmon, Miriam Klein Stahl, Tamara Friedman, Leslie Anne Plettner, Susannah Bell, Magi Discoe, James Dopman
5 Creating Demand for Equity: Transforming the Role of Parents in Schools 201
LaShawn Routé Chatmon, Katrina Scott-George, Anne K. Okahara, Emma Haydée Fuentes, Jean Yonemura Wing, Pedro A. Noguera
Parent Voices: Isabel M. Parra, Julina Bastidas-Bonilla, Michael D. Miller, Juana Villegas, Vikki C. Davis, Liz Fuentes, Valerie B. Yerger
6 Songs of Experience: Student Reflections on Four Years at Berkeley High 247
Elena Silva
Student Voices: Nabila Lee Lester, Joseph Christiano, Jimmy Thong Tran, Pranoumphone (Pam) Pradachith, Jamie E. McMaryion, Shabnam Piryaei, Niles Xi'an Lichtenstein
Conclusion: Lessons Learned: The Limits and Possibilities of Using Research to Counter Racial Inequality 281
Pedro A. Noguera
Epilogue: Finishing School 297
Jabari Mahiri
References 305
Index 311