Read complete books and articles on: Public Education

School - term commonly referring to institutions of pre-college formal education. It also properly includes colleges, universities, and many types of special training establishments (see adult education; colleges and universities; community college; vocational education).

Public Schools

In the United States, the standard school system developed from an uncoordinated conglomeration of dame

Public Schools

In the United States, the standard school system developed from an uncoordinated conglomeration of dame schools, reading and writing schools, private academies, Latin grammar schools, and colleges into a well-organized system in which a child may progress from kindergarten to college in a continuous and efficient free public system. By 1890 there had evolved the now common twelve-grade system whereby the child enters kindergarten at the age of five, goes to grammar or elementary school for grades one through eight, high or secondary school for grades nine through twelve, and then enters college. Compulsory attendance at school has been legislated in all states, although standards of age and length of the school year vary considerably.

To meet the psychological and social stresses of early adolescence, the junior high school was introduced (1890–1920) in many systems for grades seven through nine. This organization, sometimes called the six-three-three plan, was designed to ease the transition period by having the junior high school introduce its students to many aspects of the high school, such as student government and separate classes for different subjects. Critics of the junior high school, however, contended that it merely copied the program of the high school, which they believed to be inappropriate for the age group that attends the junior high. In response, many districts have established intermediate, or middle, schools, usually encompassing grades five through eight.

To provide opportunity for advanced training beyond high school without a full college course, the junior or community college, which generally includes the first two years of college, has gained wide popularity. Not only does it prepare students for technical careers, it allows states and municipalities to fulfill their commitment to open enrollment, whereby any high-school graduate may enter a specified institution of higher education. More recently, a few high schools have combined a community college curriculum with the last two years of high school. Such a program is designed to encourage bright or disadvantaged students to remain in high school by enabling them to earn an associate degree in conjunction with a high school diploma.

Although in the United States schools are primarily the responsibility of state and local authorities, the federal government has passed a number of measures intended to assist schools and their students. The National Defense Education Act (1958) and the Higher Education Act (1965) were designed to provide financial assistance to college and university students. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (1965, amended 1966, 1967) was the first national general-aid education program in the United States. It provided funds for school library and textbook services, the education of poor and handicapped children, and educational innovations and construction by local school districts.

Public school services have been extended, in some communities, into the sponsorship of community centers, adult education, summer schools, and recreation programs. In addition, with the increase in the number of households where both parents work and in the number of single-parent households, programs such as Head Start have been established to care for preschool children. Special programs have been established for the deaf, the blind, and the mentally and physically handicapped and in some instances for the gifted. In large cities special high schools are sometimes set up to serve special student needs; e.g., there may be separate schools for artistic, industrial, scientific, and classical subjects. In the latter part of the 20th cent. public schools, particularly in economically depressed urban areas, suffered from economic cutbacks, an increase in student crime, and an inability to find qualified administrators and teachers. Efforts to revitalize public school systems have included such varied approaches as decentralized community control in large urban areas, privatization of public school administration, school vouchers, and charter schools.

Parochial Schools and the English System

The free public school system is paralleled in many areas by private and parochial schools. Preparatory schools are private schools operated primarily to prepare students for college. They correspond to English public schools, which are in fact private, endowed institutions. The English system, which is roughly organized according to a six-six model, has been used as the basis for many school systems in developing countries. These educational systems usually provide primary education for children up to ages 11 or 12 and a secondary program for students up to age 18.

Bibliography

See E. P. Cubberley, Public Education in the United States (1919, repr. 1962); G. Graham, The Public School in the New Society (1969); A. Garr, The School in the Social Setting (1974); G. L. Gutek, A History of the Western Educational Experience (1984); J. R. Rinehart and J. F. Lee, American Education and the Dynamics of Choice (1991).

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14 of the Best Books and Articles on: Public Education

as selected by Questia librarians

1.

The Public Education System » Read Now
by Michael L. Berger. 114 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

...THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM THE PUBLIC EDUCATION SYSTEM MICHAEL L. BERGER American Government Series...Cataloging in Publication Data Berger, Michael. The public education...
2.

The Future of Schools: Lessons from the Reform of Public Education » Read Now
by Brian J. Caldwell, Donald K. Hayward. 190 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

This text provides an analysis of the efforts to establish systems of self- managing schools around the world. The core of this book is the description of the transformation of the education system in the state of Victoria, Australia, from dependence in a highly centralized and bureaucratized...
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This text provides an analysis of the efforts to establish systems of self- managing schools around the world. The core of this book is the description of the transformation of the education system in the state of Victoria, Australia, from dependence in a highly centralized and bureaucratized structure to one that values local decision making and the creation of a system of self-managing schools. The text goes on to show how these and similar programmes in other nations could lay the foundations for similar reform.; The authors propose that there must be changes in the role of key stakeholders, including government, community and profession; traditional approaches must be challenged and new ways to fund schools to be canvassed.
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3.

Ideology and Educational Reform: Themes and Theories in Public Education » Read Now
by David C. Paris. 220 pgs.

Collections: Philosophy, Education, Entire Library

...Themes and Theories in Public Education David C. Paris Westview...Thematic Analysis and Public Education , 48 Notes...Second Triangle": Themes in Public Education 51 3.1...
4.

Public Education: Who's in Charge? » Read Now
by Fred G. Burke. 198 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

This timely and important book by a former Commissioner of Education for both New Jersey and Rhode Island, presents a radically different point of view on the role of government in public education. Burke argues that education, especially that of the poor, cannot be viewed in isolation of the many...
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This timely and important book by a former Commissioner of Education for both New Jersey and Rhode Island, presents a radically different point of view on the role of government in public education. Burke argues that education, especially that of the poor, cannot be viewed in isolation of the many factors that contribute to a productive life. He discusses many alternative policies and strategies that will alleviate the current crisis in public education. Burke proposes a national policy that will redefine the role of the Federal Government in public education and address the entire range of child and youth needs.
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5.

The 13th Bracey Report on the Condition of Public Education, in Phi Delta Kappan » Read Now
by Gerald W. Bracey. 17 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

...Bracey Report on The Condition of Public Education. by Gerald W. Bracey...Attention is being paid to public education; much of it is not benign. On...privatization fox is...
6.

Defending Public Schools, Vol. 1 » Read Now
by David A. Gabbard, E. Wayne Ross. 264 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

Defending Public Schools addresses the historical, current, and future context of public schools in the United States. While the essays provide an overview of education and schooling issues, the overarching concern is that public schools are under attack and deserve to be defended.
7.

The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud, and the Attack on America's Public Schools » Read Now
by David C. Berliner, Bruce J. Biddle. 416 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

When this book debunked the myths that American students don't measure up and that better funding won't improve schools, it made national news from Newsweek and Better Homes and Gardens to the The New York Times Op-Ed page. Experts agreed with the Director of the Center for Educational R enewal that...
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When this book debunked the myths that American students don't measure up and that better funding won't improve schools, it made national news from Newsweek and Better Homes and Gardens to the The New York Times Op-Ed page. Experts agreed with the Director of the Center for Educational R enewal that The Manufactured Crisis is "one of the most imporant books we've had in education in a long time".
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8.

From 3 R's to 3 C's: Corporate Curriculum and Culture in Public Schools, in Social Justice » Read Now
by Jabari Mahiri. 16 pgs.

Collections: Entire Library
9.

Altering the Structure and Culture of American Public Schools, in Phi Delta Kappan » Read Now
by Wellford W. Wilms. 9 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library
10.

Reinventing Public Education: How Contracting Can Transform America's Schools » Read Now
by Paul T. Hill, Lawrence C. Pierce, James W. Guthrie. 268 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

A heated debate is raging over our nation’s public schools and how they should be reformed, with proposals ranging from imposing national standards to replacing public educationnbsp;altogether with a voucher system for private schools. Combining decades of experience in education, the authors...
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A heated debate is raging over our nation’s public schools and how they should be reformed, with proposals ranging from imposing national standards to replacing public educationnbsp;altogether with a voucher system for private schools. Combining decades of experience in education, the authors propose an innovative approach to solving the problems of our school system and find a middle ground between these extremes. Reinventing Public Education shows how contracting would radically change the way we operate our schools, while keeping them public and accessible to all, and making them better able to meet standards of achievement and equity. Using public funds, local school boards would select private providers to operate individual schools under formal contracts specifying the type and quality of instruction. In a hands-on, concrete fashion, the authors provide a thorough explanation of the pros and cons of school contracting and how it would work in practice. They show how contracting would free local school boards from operating schools so they can focus on improving educational policy; how it would allow parents to choose the best school for their children; and, finally, how it would ensure that schools are held accountable and academic standards are met. While retaining a strong public role in education, contracting enables schools to be more imaginative, adaptable, and suited to the needs of children and families. In presenting an alternative vision for America’s schools, Reinventing Public Education is too important to be ignored.
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11.

Marketing Fear in America's Public Schools: The Real War on Literacy » Read Now
by Leslie Poynor, Paula M. Wolfe. 207 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

Explores the political pressures and influences on teachers today, in particular, how the political actions of the conservative right disempower and control teachers, school districts, parents, and children through an atmosphere of fear used as a strategy to ensure that its political agenda...
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Explores the political pressures and influences on teachers today, in particular, how the political actions of the conservative right disempower and control teachers, school districts, parents, and children through an atmosphere of fear used as a strategy to ensure that its political agenda (including increased accountability, high-stakes testing, direct intense direct instruction phonics programs) is followed in schools. The book offers a unique look at not only what the conservative factions are doing buy also why.
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12.

Charter Schools in Action: Renewing Public Education » Read Now
by Chester E. Finn Jr., Bruno V. Manno, Gregg Vanourek. 290 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

Can charter schools save public education? This radical question has unleashed a flood of opinions from Americans struggling with the contentious challenges of education reform. There has been plenty of heat over charter schools and their implications, but, until now, not much light. This important...
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Can charter schools save public education? This radical question has unleashed a flood of opinions from Americans struggling with the contentious challenges of education reform. There has been plenty of heat over charter schools and their implications, but, until now, not much light. This important new book supplies plenty of illumination.
Charter schools--independently operated public schools of choice--have existed in the United States only since 1992, yet there are already over 1,500 of them. How are they doing? Here prominent education analysts Chester Finn, Bruno Manno, and Gregg Vanourek offer the richest data available on the successes and failures of this exciting but controversial approach to education reform. After studying one hundred schools, interviewing hundreds of participants, surveying thousands more, and analyzing the most current data, they have compiled today's most authoritative, comprehensive explanation and appraisal of the charter phenomenon. Fact-filled, clear-eyed, and hard-hitting, this is the book for anyone concerned about public education and interested in the role of charter schools in its renewal.
C
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13.

Beyond the Schoolhouse Door-How Charter Schools Are Transforming U. S. Public Education, in Phi Delta Kappan » Read Now
by Bruno V. Manno, Chester E. Finn Jr., Gregg Vanourek. 9 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

...Schools Are Transforming U.S. Public Education. by Bruno V. Manno...and power structures of U.S. public education. Even if charter schools do...reinventing what is meant by...
14.

Schools with Heart: Voluntarism and Public Education » Read Now
by Daniel J. Brown. 210 pgs.

Collections: Education, Entire Library

In Schools with Heart, Dan Brown explores voluntarism by using original data gathered from 185 interviews with public school principals, teachers, & volunteers, many of whom worked in schools known for their volunteer programs. Supplementing these data from other studies, this careful inquiry finds...
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In Schools with Heart, Dan Brown explores voluntarism by using original data gathered from 185 interviews with public school principals, teachers, & volunteers, many of whom worked in schools known for their volunteer programs. Supplementing these data from other studies, this careful inquiry finds that volunteers offer much to schools. School voluntarism is seen as a special bridge between primordial institutions such as families & modern institutions such as public schools. By using various perspectives & relying primarily on rational choice theory, the author shows that voluntarism in schools offers a vision of how education may be changed. He presents some recommendations for policies that would alter the balance between public & private support for education.
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