Reviews - Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School

65 reviews for:

Learning in Public: Lessons for a Racially Divided America from My Daughter's School

There was a lot to enjoy here. The author's experiences mirrored many that I've had as a white public school parent in Oakland (there were some scenes that I felt as if I had actually written myself). Her analysis is very astute and I liked that she didn't try to make everything neat and tidy. She is (as other reviewers have commented) especially smart when talking about other white parents and the way they talk about race (or don't talk about it) in relation to school decision making. It was fun for me to read about places and events that I was so familiar with.

Oh also, the bit about saying "My child's not gifted"? Gold, pure gold.

I felt like she was a little self-congratulatory at times (like in the part where she talks about recruiting parents of color for the SSC). Also that she conflates race and class at times. I was uncomfortable with her going after Saru Jayaraman so strongly in the Kaiser school merge debates - I couldn't disagree that some of the things she cited were problematic, but I thought it was troubling that she focused so much on a woman of color's role in what was a majority white group (and she really did focus in, for example I recall some judgy, superfluous description of Saru's interaction with her daughter).

I felt the title was misleading (though that's probably not her fault) - it's really mostly about school choice and only somewhat about her actual experiences at the school. Would love to hear more analysis and reflection once her daughter's been in school for some years.

staceface's review

4.5

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

I loved this book! I think it’s especially important for white parents of young children to read. I must say, I read this with a critical eye, always on the lookout, for the author potentially falling into a position of the white savior, but I was impressed by her thoughtfulness throughout. She does an excellent job of constantly examining her privilege, reflecting on her actions, and asking herself and her community how she can do better. I think that’s more than a lot of white folks are doing when it comes to this topic, or just existing within a white supremacist society in general, and how to actively try to dismantle that.

Structurally, I super duper appreciate that the book has incredibly short chapters. It really helped me fly through it! Aside from the fact that it’s just a very well-written and compelling book. I’ve got lots of pages dog-eared and lots of passages underlined. Glad I finally read this one!