A Nation at Risk

The editors have collected original papers dealing with the impact of commissions on educational policy and reform. This book is a combination of the perspectives of practitioners directly involved with writing or reacting to commission reports, and scholars analyzing the significance and impact of educational policy. Chapters are written by some of the country's leading authorities on education. This book will prove to be a valuable resource for educators, administrators, political scientists, sociologists, and others interested in the state of education. Includes a foreword by Paul E. Peterson of Harvard University.

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.

This expertly prepared policy issues handbook surveys the changing workplace and the failures of America's public health and education systems to prepare the future work force to compete at home and abroad. Carl Stenberg and William Colman analyze the key issues; review a mass of information, ideas, and insights about policy options that are available; and assess their pros and cons. Students, teachers, administrators, policymakers, and concerned citizens will find a wealth of clearly presented data along with careful analyses of the major proposals for reform. Figures, tables, short summaries, appendices, bibliographical aids, and a full index make this one-volume landmark reference accessible to researchers and readers at different levels and for varied use.

Education as Enforcement locates a rising culture of militarism found not only in US popular culture, civil society and foreign policy but also in educational policy and practices. Considering the rise of school security apparatus, accountability and standards movements, privatization and commercialization, this book is the first of its kind to highlight the intersections between militarization and corporatization. This volume brings together noted scholars in education to explore and challenge the ways that the imperatives of corporate globalization are educating citizens through curriculum, policy and popular culture in the virtues of authoritarianism while turning some schools into boardrooms and others into barracks and prisons. With the shadow of the No Child Left Behind Act descending over us, Education as Enforcement points to the need for citizens to become more actively involved in leading schools, teachers and children out of this educational Dark Age.

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.

This work represents the first comprehensive study of the involvement of American presidents in educational policy making. Tracing the efforts of administrations from Washington to Bush, Berube analyzes presidential programs in education, the reasons for their implementation, and their correlation to national educational outcomes. He examines both successful and less successful endeavors, the constitutional constraints of the president's role in education, and the increasing national and international pressures to shape educational policies that have characterized the post-World War II era.

"There is no doubt in my mind that this is the best book on the Japanese school, and especially on the underlying concepts. As such it is one of the most important books on Japanese society." Peter Drucker "Benjamin Duke knows both American and Japanese education intimately. His analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of each is compelling. Everyone interested in Japan's economic performance over the past generation--and the next--needs to examine The Japanese School." Mike Mansfield U.S. Ambassador to Japan