Tough fronts : the impact of street culture on schooling / L. Janelle Dance.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dance, Lory Janelle.

Series:

Critical social thought

The critical social thought series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Education, Urban--Social aspects--United States.

Education, Urban.

Education, Urban--Social aspects.

African Americans--Education--Social aspects.

African Americans--Education.

United States.

African Americans.

Educational anthropology--United States.

Educational anthropology.

Physical Description:

xix, 187 pages : maps ; 23 cm.

Place of Publication:

New York : RoutledgeFalmer, 2002.

Summary:

How Do We Reform Urban Classrooms? How Can We Transform Inner-City Schools into Sources of Support and Inspiration for Our Cities' Students? According to L. Janelle Dance, the answers to these questions should not just come from teachers and policy makers, but from students themselves. Drawing on her ethnographic research in the Boston area, she paints a detailed picture of "at-risk," inner-city students' lives both in classrooms and on the streets. Providing a better understanding of the postures these students assume to survive, Dance places her close analysis of street culture alongside her evaluation of the state of urban schools. Tough Fronts brings students' voices to a range of debates, offering insights on the future of pedagogy and educational policy in urban areas. Innovative in its approach and style, this book represents a turning point in the study of inner-city education.

Contents:

Introduction: A Study of Street-Savvy Students 1

Part I. "Expert" Points of View

1 There Are No Agents Here: Scholarly Depictions of Black Americans 15

2 Postures Forged by Social Marginalization 33

Part II. The Perspectives of Street-Savvy Students

3 On Being "Hardcore," a "Hardcore Wannabe," or "Hardcore Enough" 51

4 Social Capital, Cultural Capital, and Caring Teachers: The Perspectives of Street-Savvy Students and a Magic Teacher 71

5 Malcolm: 24/7/365 85

Part III. Solutions, Broader Implications, and Policy Suggestions

6 Shadows, Mentors, and Surrogate Fathers 111

7 Fear of the Dark: The Vilification of Urban Students 127

8 Policy Implications for Individuals in Positions of Influence 141

Appendix A Brief Review of Selected Literature: Effective Schools and Critical Theory 149.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages [173]-178) and index.

ISBN:

0415932998

0415933005

OCLC:

49375367