David Rogers uses competing sociological models of "mass society" to analyze the New York City school system, which he describes as a "sick bureaucracy." In his new prologue, the author discusses the divisive school decentralization crisis of the late 1960s and early 1970s as well as efforts by subsequent mayors to reform the system, including recent changes implemented by the Bloomberg administration. Originally published by Random House in 1968. From the reviews . . . "[A] thorough and important study of the immovable bureaucratic system which is threatening to destroy New York's children." Christian Science Monitor "Rogers captures the true impotence of those who try to open a system which protects itself by drifting from crisis to crisis." New York Magazine "[A] book without heroes. . . . Even the best and most civic-minded actors in this tragedy are quickly absorbed by the school machine." New York Times Book Review "[R]apidly becoming a classic." Washington Post
