Customer Reviews

American Schools: The Art of Creating a Democratic Learning Community

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I was struck with Sam Chaltain's friendly, comfortable, warm, and intelligent synthesis of so many different ideas and approaches to leadership and learning, and especially glad that he cares deeply about young people becoming "visible" in the world. My own experience is with early childhood education. I applaud the author for his human regard and tenderness for all of the participants in education, and all of our efforts, highly successful and less successful, to be champions for children and create more democratic communities. We are in critical need of what used to be called civic education, and this book is a great resource for ideas about how to approach that.

Sam Chaltain has written an excellent book that caters to those who work in the field of education and those who don't. In the first portion of the book Sam weaves together multiple theories that root his well thought out analysis and ultimately the tangible recommendations he provides at the end of each chapter. In the second portion, Sam uses case studies to illustrate the process certain schools and school leaders undertook to shift to a more democratic learning community -- to varying degrees of success. What Sam is able to make crystal clear in his readable book is an insight that is currently missing from the education reform movement: creating a democratic learning community is not a one time event - it requires constant attention, evolution, and engagement.

In a highly-readable style, Sam Chaltain skillfully weaves together theory and practice for creating democratic learning communities where young people are both seen - and heard. I most appreciate the practical recommendations and additional resources found at the culmination of each of the five chapters on theory. They include useful, tangible ideas - for many sorts of professionals...not just educators - that can be explored or implemented easily and immediately. Readers get the chance to apply our learning in the second section, as Chaltain shares inspiring portraits of schools striving to create model communities - to varying degrees of success. This book is thoughtful, compelling and useful. Highly recommended.

If you've ever thought about how schools - designed to prepare youth for adult life - can do more to help our young people develop the knowledge and skills to be fully engaged citizens, then this book is for you. Chaltain combines his extensive experience with democratic schooling practices across the United States with his likewise extensive research into learning theory, organizational development, and systems change theory to present a clear, cogent framework for developing school communities that take democratic practice to heart. The practical and the theoretical are woven together in a delightfully readable book that would serve well as a basis for whole school discussion. Highly recommended.

Chaltain's "American Schools" is often fascinating and insightful, consistently entertaining and well-written, and at all times important reading for both professional educators and anyone with an interest in improving our schools. In the first section, Chaltain summarizes and interweaves analyses from a variety of disciplines. The reader need not be expert in, or even familiar with, any of them to grasp Chaltain's arguments and appreciate the time he takes to build his case. At the same time, Chaltain brings the conversation from theory to practice, as he ends each chapter with specific recommendations (e.g., books to read, websites to visit, exercises to consider). In the second section, Chaltain reinforces his lessons by telling compelling stories of real schools where these issues have been addressed, of principals, teachers and students striving to create and participate in communities that empower each, and thus all. This book is useful and inspiring (as are Chaltain's other books); I recommend it.

Sam Chaltain provides both inspiration and practical ideas for returning sanity to schools and to school leadership. He offers five areas of focus -- reflect, connect, create, equip, let come -- for the work of those in schools, areas which are a far cry from the foci that often distract educators from their purpose (test, mandate, hold meetings, walk around, etc.). Chaltain's suggestions for enacting these five areas draw upon the best work of educational organizations and educational thinkers, as well as his own insights and practices. I especially appreciate his recognition that it is not the job of school leaders to declare a vision but rather to help those who work in schools to find their vision. The second half of the book provides case studies of schools where the five areas of focus are enacted and lead to different kinds of schools.

This is a book that causes me to read slowly, because it continually prompts my reflection. I find myself staring into space every page or two, as I ponder the impact of another one of Chaltain's ideas. Such a pace is not a problem -- but it IS a reflection of the richness of the ideas presented in this book. I am currently reading the book for the third time and continue to get insights and inspiration.

As a consultant I frequently recommend this book to teacher leaders and school administrators. I highly recommend it here to Amazon readers.

A must-read for anyone interested in organizational change from the classroom to the boardroom. The author, Sam Chaltain. brings fresh insight to four classic concepts (Reflect, Connect, Create, Equip) and encourages the reader to "test drive" these concepts in the context of three varied school communities. It is through inspired storytelling that the reader is able to clearly visualize these programs and customize Mr. Chaltain's ideas to their own life and needs for change.

This a very thoughtful book that outlines steps for creating a democratic learning community and offers examples of democratic learning communities in action. Reading "American Schools" made me reflect on my own leadership experiences and think about the importance of balance between freedom and structure. Chaltain clearly describes how finding the right balance is key. I really enjoyed reading the examples of schools working to create democratic learning communities, especially the one about MC2 in New Hampshire. It is evident that MC2 has found balance. I also loved the recommended actions at the end of chapters.