Reclaiming Our Schools: Whose Kids Are They, Anyway? [Paperback]

Richard L. King (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

Written by an educator in everyday language, "Reclaiming Our Schools" is a guide for parents both dismayed by a public school system producing students scoring among the lowest of all industrialized national and unsure of what to do about it. Included are non-confrontational questions for school administrators, both research and common-sense challenging current educational practices, and a detailed examination of the myths driving them. (Education/Teaching)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The two core ideas in educational consultant King's slim handbook are that, given adequate time and attention, all students can learn, and that schools have largely abandoned their mission of teaching useful knowledge. "This book," he writes, "is not to be a rehash of the problems of American education but rather, an exposure of many of the myths that drive current schooling practices." Fueled by dismay at the poor showing of the United States in recent international comparisons of student learning, the book sounds many familiar notes. Although King says that no arguments for or against his proposals should be made without "supporting research to back up the argument," he provides only minimal documentation of the studies he relies on himself. Repeating a mantra of "learning outcomes" and "mastery standards," King relies on a management model of education in which parents are stockholders, teachers are managers and students are workers. Needless to say, he is firmly against teachers' unions and has little good to say about college professors. Rarely offering a development of its proposals and criticisms beyond a few paragraphs, the book is also marred by a clumsy style. King's nostalgic prescriptions imply a static, homogeneous student body that simply does not exist in most schools today. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: Elderberry Press (OR) (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965840794
• ISBN-13: 978-0965840798
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,785,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reclaiming Our Schools--It's about time for a book like this, September 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reclaiming Our Schools: Whose Kids Are They, Anyway? (Paperback)

This book is the book the NEA and the educational establishment doesn't want you to read!

The problem is clear--parents have lost touch with their schools, and children are not learning.

As current as today's headlines, Reclaiming Our Schools offers the cure. Written by an educator in everyday language, Reclaiming Our Schools is a guide to parents both dismayed by a public school system producing students scoring among the lowest of all industrialized nations and unsure of what to do about it.

For the concerned parent intimidated by the task of challenging an entrenched educatonal establishment, this book will serve as guide. Included are non-frontational questions for school administrators, both research and common sense challenging current educational practices, and a detailed examination of the myths driving them.

Schools following the steps described in this book soon have 90% of their students scoring as high as the top ten percent in schools who do not--results neither parents, nor schools can affod to ignore.

With this book as guide, parents can work closely with their school toward the common goal of helping children learn. It can be done! This book shows the way.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars At last! an easy to understand book about education!, October 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reclaiming Our Schools: Whose Kids Are They, Anyway? (Paperback)

This is the book I've been waiting for. It gave me, a parent, the tools I needed to work with my school to get the education my kids needed.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How come no one ever wrote this book before?!!!, December 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Reclaiming Our Schools: Whose Kids Are They, Anyway? (Paperback)

How refreshing that an educator has the courage to speak out about the appalling state of our education system in the United States! We hold every other highly skilled professional accountable for the results they produce: doctors, dentists, attorneys,etc. Why don't we demand any kind of accountability for our "educators?" It's time parents took back control and began to demand results! This book would be a very important guide to do just that! A highly recommended read!