The Dismantling of Public Education and How to Stop It

by Elaine B. Johnson

Overview

Today, many public schools, especially rural and inner-city areas, are so fraught with violence, so impersonal, and so poorly funded that they drive students away rather than inspire them to learn. Most people do not realize that the school system they knew when they were growing up is now in the process of being supplanted with alternative approaches to education. Nor do they understand the grave consequences for their children who face the demise of America's one system of public education for all. Author Elaine Johnson examines the state of education in the twenty-first century using science, rather than business as a more reliable and positive guide for education. The application of scientific principles of interrelatedness, self-organization, and differentiation to leadership and teaching, transforms schools into places that improve school performance. Chapters describe practical approaches to teaching math, science, and foreign languages. The Dismantling of Public Education analyzes: The influence on education of the business model calling for growth, Competition, Measurable targets, Accountability. This book also discusses the effects on young people of immense high schools, charter schools, and statewide standardized achievement tests.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578860746
Publisher:	R&L Education
Publication date:	11/19/2003
Pages:	160
Product dimensions:	5.94(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.48(d)

About the Author

Elaine B. Johnson is executive director of MBM Associates, consultants to educators and business leaders. A Woodrow Wilson Fellow, Johnson has received numerous awards for her work as an educator.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction: The Dismantling of American Education – Are You For It? Chapter 2 1 What Do You Want From Public Schools Chapter 3 2 What Is Business Doing to America's Schools Chapter 4 3 Modern Science – A Guide to Better Schools Chapter 5 4 Improving Your Child's Public School Chapter 6 5 Good Teaching Connects Lessons with Life: teaching History, Science, and Foreign Languages in Context Chapter 7 6 Mathematics and Clear Thinking for Everyone Chapter 8 Bibliography Chapter 9 Index Chapter 10 About the Author

What People are Saying About This

Peter Senge

America is engaged in an historic experiment with our future – applying the worst practices of American business management toward revitalizing American education. In effect, the high stakes testing movement has succeeded in transposing the stress, excessive competition, and distrust that characterizes the least innovative businesses into the mainstream of public schools, while overstressed parents largely look the other way.

Elaine Johnson shows that an alternative foundation for innovation is available – science's emerging understanding of living systems, the same understanding that is guiding the most innovative business in the world. In short, must we meet the unprecedented demands for an education system for the 21st century by reverting to the management thinking of the 19th century?

Editorial Reviews

Elaine Johnson has the courage to suggest the business model fails public education and touts a contextual science model as a dynamic systemic change agent for success. The idea of making connections is a sound concept when applied to the teaching of mathematics. Experiences children can relate to connect mathematical concepts to a deeper level of understanding than rote memorization can achieve. This book challenges the entire teaching community to engage students in solving significant problems to allow them to experience meaning and acquire understanding and knowledge.

Jill Sumerlin

The title grabs attention in its suggestion of a disassembling of public education in the United States. Dr. Johnson expertly presents the case. However, she is most admirable in her discussion of means to correct or rebuild the structure of our educational system. I see the embedded theme as the power of the group (or in today's vernacular) the learning community. Time, experience, and research have proven the value of multi-level, multi-directional team effort in the identification and resolution of difficult situations. Dr. Johnson has masterfully illuminated the process.

Gloria Heberley

Can quantitative measurement—a basic tenant of the business model—by itself be the only measure of success? Applied to education, does this model ignore the value of relationships? These questions form the core of today's education debate. Dr. Johnson challenges us to look to the universal principles of modern science at work in all natural systems to restore our confidence in public education. The Dismantling of Public Education and How to Stop It is a courageous, provocative, well-researched book that frames and takes a stand on the debate whose outcome affects us all.

Arlene H. Parisot

America is engaged in an historic experiment with our future-applying the worst practices of American business management toward revitalizing American education. In effect, the high stakes testing movement has succeeded in transposing the stress, excessive competition, and distrust that characterizes the least innovative businesses into the mainstream of public schools, while overstressed parents largely look the other way. Elaine Johnson shows that an alternative foundation for innovation is available-science's emerging understanding of living systems, the same understanding that is guiding the most innovative business in the world. In short, must we meet the unprecedented demands for an education system for the 21st century by reverting to the management thinking of the 19th century

Peter Senge