Educational courage
Subtitle: resisting the ambush of public education
By: [edited by] Nancy Schniedewind and Mara Sapon-Shevin
Publisher: Beacon Press
Published: 2012
Place of publication: Boston
Language: eng
Number of pages: 209
ISBN-13: 9780807032954
Subjects: EDUCATION; Democracy and education; Students & Student Life; Educational change; Public schools; Educational Policy & Reform; General
Description: "Ten years after the passage of No Child Left Behind, high-stakes testing, national standards, and turn-around policies remain highly controversial. In the same period, we have seen the rise of mayoral control of schools, charter schools, and other initiatives that are viciously opposed by the American Federation of Teachers. But even among well informed people, these issues can seem abstract. Educational Courage presents the human side of the consequences of these policies by bringing readers the voices of the teachers, students, parents, and school officials who are directly affected by changes in public education. The book begins by outlining the increasingly pervasive assaults on democratic public education and focuses on peoples' negative experiences as public schools have become more "market-driven," taking the heart out of teaching. In the face of widespread discouragement, people are hungry for alternatives. The second and third sections of the book illustrate what students, teachers, and parents have done to reists these policies -- from writing op-eds to refusing to "teach to the test," to a community organizing to change testing policies that discriminate against English-language learners -- and to successfully teach and learn in spite of these obstacles. Educational Courage concludes with a vision for how we can collectively work to promote progressive, multicultural, democratic schools. So often in the debate over school reform, the voices of those who are affected by these policies are silenced. The conversation tends to be dominated by ed-school academics and policy-makers, but the "real experts"--Those actually teaching and raising children -- are left out. Many of the contributors to this volume, while not well known, do bring ties to national organizations with online presence. At the same time, the authors' introductions to the book as well as each section will position the essays as part of a larger movement devoted to resisting destructive educational policies and dedicated to defending an egalitarian, democratic ideal in the sphere of public education. *70,000 words To view a video of Macario Guajardo, whose story is told in Educational Courage, explaining why he became a conscientious objector against the Texas state standardized tests, go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eCI8qgcdwQ4"--

"This book offers the voices of those who are resisting legislation, policies and practices that threaten a democratic vision of education and society. The contributors to this volume have all found ways to foster educational equity for all in the face of significant odds. The accounts of the educators, parents, students and community activists presented here provide powerful examples of the damage and hurt caused by these policies that diminish democratic education. But the book also provides inspiring examples of the power of individuals and groups who have resisted such practices and policies. The voices in this book are the real, seldom-heard voices of those on the ground resisting the market-driven policies that are ambushing public education: standardized, high-stakes testing, corporate-connected charter schools, merit pay, national standards, mayoral control and anti-union/anti-teacher initiatives. Some of the contributors have said, "I won't be part of this!" by writing an op ed piece, by resigning from Teach for America or organizing neighborhood parents to challenge testing policies. Other educators have resisted by "working within the cracks" to keep teaching vibrant and curriculum relevant despite test-driven pressures. Many have organized collectively in public contexts to oppose corporate-oriented policies, such as merit pay or mayoral control, and some have marched and protested in inspiring numbers to reclaim progressive, multicultural, democratic schools. The stories here are evidence of what resistance looks like and what is possible when people work individually and collectively for schools that affirm all young people and promote the common good"--
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Internet Archive - 2

Internet Archive 2
Table of contents: title: A short history of the ambush of public education / Nancy Schniedewind; title: One teacher's cry / Susan J. Hobart; title: Rachel's plea / Wendy J. Goodman; title: Voices of students with disabilities / Kids As Self Advocates (KASA); title: Debunking the case for national standards / Alfie Kohn; title: Resisting the state test : the story of an eleven-year-old, Nino Rebelde / Francisco Guajardo; title: There is no rubric for imagination : organizing against a charter school gone corporate / Nate Walker; title: "No" : the power of refusal / Doug Christensen and Chris W. Gallagher; title: Why I quit Teach For America to fight for public education / Neha Singhal; title: Exit strategies : confronting faulty graduation tests / Latricia Wilson; title: Tu eres mi otro yo : you are my other self / Curtis Acosta; title: Deepening the cracks to infuse mathematics for social justice / Ellen Davidson; title: Test prep and the war / Jessica Klonsky; title: Alligator-crocodile / Felipa Gaudet; title: You can't be driven by fear : a portrait of public school 24 / Tom Roderick; title: "You want to pay me for what?!?" : resisting merit pay and the business model of education / Sam Coleman and Edwin Mayorga; title: The Curie 12 : a case for teacher activism / Katie Hogan; title: The struggle against mayoral control in Milwaukee / Bob Peterson; title: We are not the backlash : we are the resistance! / Juanita Doyon; title: "Just parents" challenge Mayor Daley, Arne Duncan, and Renaissance 2010 / Julie Woestehoff; title: From seeds to fruition : the making of a resistance movement / Don Perl; title: Making a difference / Jane Hirschmann, Ujju Aggarwal, and Donna Nevel; title: What endures : meaningful assessment for the long haul / Chris W. Gallagher and Doug Christensen; title: Voices of activism / Kim Dominguez [and others]; title: Another world is possible : another education is necessary / Bill Ayers.