kah296's review

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informative medium-paced

4.0

coreymanuel's review against another edition

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challenging informative medium-paced

4.75

iheartpuns's review against another edition

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medium-paced

4.25

sarabasti's review

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informative slow-paced

4.0

the authors did an amazing job presenting both sides of the argument on equal footing while making their argument very clear

anhbear's review

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medium-paced

3.5

steller0707's review

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5.0

“As far back as the earliest days of public education in the United States, the role of schools in producing an educated citizenry was perceived as foundational to the survival of a democratic system. In the words of legal scholar Derek Black, “Public education was to be the fuel that makes democracy work and the only sure guarantee that those controlling government will preserve rights and liberties, rather than trample on them.” p. 199

Very scary! This book explains clearly how, in the name of school choice, proponents of unfettered “market forces” are slowly chipping away at public education. Our best option for ensuring the vibrancy of our democracy is that all citizens have a wide knowledge of our country and the world, its protections and its responsibilities - the only “choice” that has a mandate.

glessiesue's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative tense fast-paced

4.0

hannahleoni's review

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challenging emotional informative fast-paced

4.75

abby315's review

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5.0

Everyone should read! Also one of the most compulsively readable nonfiction books I’ve read recently. 

helterskelliter's review

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5.0

“A wolf is lurking at the door of America’s public schools—prowling, biding it’s time, and waiting for the pack to assemble… what does it take to frighten away a wolf? Shouting, making noise, and standing talk.” (xxi-xxii)

So, this is perhaps one of the most sobering, truly chilling books I’ve read in a while.

In this book, Schneider and Berkshire paint a vivid and rather bleak picture of not just the current state of public education in America but also of the trajectory if the public is not compelled to intervene.

From the sharp criticisms of basic factors such as spending on teachers and classroom sizes to more inflammatory—and, frankly, complex—concerns such as oversight, curriculum, standardized testing, and policy making, this book explores how [largely] conservatives in the private sector are actively trying to dismantle public education + community relationships with public education and reformat the “whole operation” as a true business aligned with free market practices rather than a mission aligned with propagating the most public good.

It’s actually sickening to read some of the pages in this book. As an educator (in a community college), I found some of the practices being not just promoted amongst conservative circles but being loudly endorsed by conservative politicians to be so flagrantly in the disservice of students and their learning needs that it disgusts me. The apathetic and, honestly, reckless approach that so many of these self-appointed “education reformers” are applying to the practice of educating this country’s young people is heartbreaking.

I said this book sickened be at points but, really, I mean it saddened me.

“‘…where are the children and who is looking out for them?’” (199)

This quote is introduced in a different context than I am introducing it here but I couldn’t help but come back to this sentiment when I finished reading this book.

If educators and those in positions to provide care, support, and learning to children are not looking out for children, then who is?

Should that not be the core of our work as educators?

Overall, I think this is an, at times, bleak but necessary and important exploration of how public education has arrived at the state it is in. If you don’t address and name the problems at hand—if you don’t point out the wolf, how can you possibly begin to fix anything, to fight back?

Very insightful! Highly recommend, not just for educators and parents but for anyone a part of any community anywhere! We ALL benefit from public education, after all—that’s supposed to be the point~