Schools That Work: America's Most Innovative Public Education Programs (Plume) [Mass Market Paperback]

George H. Wood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1995 | Series: Plume

In a fresh, positive, and practical approach to the crisis in American education, professional educator Wood tells of the search that led him to innovative schools across the country, where students aren't just getting by--they are excited about the learning process. Unencumbered by abstract theory and academic jargon, Wood's book brings a message of hope to all who are concerned with the plight of American education.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Touring classrooms from New York City's East Harlem to Winnetka, Ill., this exploration of the achievements of American public schools proves both concrete and visionary.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

There are successful schools in spite of what the media reports. Wood, coauthor of Introduction to Teaching (Allyn & Bacon, 1988) and Justice, Ideology, and Education (McGraw Hill, 1987), presents examples of what he considers excellence in education for others to model within their bailiwick. Time is spent explicating programs in Raban Gap, Georgia (Foxfire), Central Park East Secondary School (CPESS) in Harlem, Hubbard Woods Elementary in Winnetka, Illinois, the Fratney School in Milwaukee, and schools in Athens County, Ohio. He states that these schools struggle against the misguided mandates of those who know little of how schools really operate. Wood submits that these schools succeed because they are undergirded by principles of compassion, connection, and learning by doing; factors overlooked in the A Nation at Risk -type reform proposals. This is recommended for all collections and is complementary to Edward Fiske's Smart Schools, Smart Kids ( LJ 8/91), Marvin Cetron's Educational Renaissance ( LJ 12/90), and Edward Pauley's The Classroom Crucible ( LJ 4/1/91).
- Scott Johnson, Meridian Community Coll. Lib., Miss.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Plume (January 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0452269598
• ISBN-13: 978-0452269590
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,449,403 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Out-of-date and slightly tedious but still informative, April 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Schools That Work: America's Most Innovative Public Education Programs (Plume) (Mass Market Paperback)

Wood's book explores innovative teaching ideas in the public school system. A good read for any parent, teacher, administrator, or student interested in how a good school system should work. The book includes profiles of rural, suburban, and inner city high schools and elementary schools that went from being some of the worst in the state to having nearly 100% graduation rates through innovative programs. However, the book does seem slightly out-dated and some of the programs that seemed "innovative" in 1986 may not be so today. The reading at time can be slightly boring but it is still an informative book. I also rec. "Fiske's Smart Kids, Smart Schools".