Education

by Noel Merino (Editor)

Overview

Across four chapters, readers will evaluate the state of education in America, whether school alternatives are a good idea, if religion and religious ideas should be part of public education, and how the education system should be improved. Each chapter provides a sequence of essays that debate these topics and their subtopics. Readers are exposed to many sides of a debate, which promotes issue awareness as well as critical thinking. Essayists include Amanda Ripley, Heather Weaver, Neal McCluskey, Satoshi Kanazawa, the National Education Association, and Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780737764338
Publisher:	Greenhaven Publishing LLC
Publication date:	03/04/2014
Series:	Opposing Viewpoints Series
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	15 - 17 Years

Table of Contents

Why Consider Opposing Viewpoints? 11

Introduction 14

Chapter 1 What Is the State of Education in America?

Chapter Preface 19

1 American Students Perform Poorly Compared to Students in Other Countries Amanda Ripley 21

2 American Students Perform Favorably Compared to Students in Other Countries Gerald W. Bracey 32

3 Teachers' Unions Have Not Been Good for American Education Terry M. Moe 39

4 Bipartisan, But Unfounded: The Assault on Teachers' Unions Richard D. Kahlenberg 51

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 66

Chapter 2 Are School-Choice Alternatives a Good Idea?

Chapter Preface 68

1 The Educational Bonanza in Privatizing Government Schools Andrew Bernstein 71

2 The Republican War on Education Ruth Conniff 89

3 School Vouchers Are a Good Alternative to Public Schools Gary Jason 100

4 False Choice: How Private School Vouchers Might Harm Minority Students Matthew McKnight 106

5 In Defense of School-Choice Tax Credits David French 113

6 Tax Credits for School Choice Do Not Benefit Taxpayers and Students: National Education Association 117

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 122

Chapter 3 Should Religion and Religious Ideas Be Part of Public Education?

Chapter Preface 124

1 Public Schools Have Been Overly Sanitized of Religion John W. Whitehead 126

2 Public Schools Are Rightfully Neutral on Religion: Americans United for Separation of Church and State 132

3 The Ruling Religion in Schools Kurt Williamsen 140

4 Mr. Dawkins, Tear Down This Wall! Satoshi Kanazawa 144

5 Debate About Evolution Should Be Taught in Science Class Casey Luskin 148

6 Neither Creationism nor Debate About Evolution Should Be Taught in Schools Heather Weaver 153

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 166

Chapter 4 How Should the Education System Be Improved?

Chapter Preface 168

1 Federal Spending on Education Should Be Cut Neal McCluskey 170

2 Federal Spending on Education Should Not Be Cut Robert L. Borosage 175

3 Merit Pay for Teachers Should Be Used to Improve Education Frederick M. Hess 180

4 What's Wrong with Merit Pay? Diane Ravitch 189

Periodical and Internet Sources Bibliography 194

For Further Discussion 195

Organizations to Contact 197

Bibliography of Books 205

Index 209

Editorial Reviews

M. G. Paregian — "The pros and cons are made available so that the reader may examine their decision regarding each aspect of the educational challenges. This book will prove to be very enlightening to the reader as it presents aspects of this challenge that readers may not have previously considered".

From the Publisher