Customer Reviews

Horace's Compromise: Dilemma of the American High School

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as a framework for understanding the coallition of essential schools (a type of restructuring which changes the school into a place that works for students, not against them) this book is amazing. looking at the flaws of america's public school system, this book is one that offers suggestions for change in a way that anyone can understand. horace, a characiture of many teachers, leads the way for his high school to be the best it can be. a must read for anyone who is interested in education.

As a product of American schools, a history major, and a fan of both institutional revisionism and reform, I picked up Horace's School looking for new ideas. Here are a few thoughts of what I read. I believe Dr. Sizer does a fine job presenting his argument for the decentralization of school power and for his Coalition of Essential Schools. Likewise, he takes the care and time to present the counter arguments and concerns that might arise during a very real and difficult reform process.

At the same time, I left the book with some serious questions and concerns. If Horace's School, as presented in the book, is not every school, how can it be subtitled the redesign of THE American high school? Considering this framework, the book lacks serious discussion or concern for the issues of race, class and gender that infuse less 'privileged' schools- ones that struggle even for basic funding equity and public notice. Horace's School is a worthwhile read. The questions just keep coming.

I was trying to use this book to discover nuggets concerning school reform. Book was a little to specific and not helpful to me.