It's the mission, not the mandates : defining the purpose of public education / Amy Fast.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Fast, Amy, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Public schools--United States.

Public schools.

United States.

Education--United States.

Education.

Education--Aims and objectives--United States.

Education--Aims and objectives.

Educational evaluation--United States.

Educational evaluation.

Physical Description:

xii, 137 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Lanham, Maryland : Rowman & Littlefield, [2016]

Summary:

"This book invites a conversation among stakeholders of public education and conveys the need for a common vision for America's public schools. Amy Fast argues that we have never had a clear purpose for our schools and that now, more than ever, educators in America ache for a more inspiring purpose than simply improving results on standardized assessments. Fast asserts how focusing on the mission instead of simply the mandates and measures is how real change occurs. Until we have a common and transparent purpose that serves to inspire those in the trenches of the work, reform in public education will continue to flounder. Through the examination of our past and current priorities for American schools, Fast uncovers a nobler purpose that will intrinsically move educators as well as students to be inspired in their work. In turn, it is this inspiration--not another silver bullet reform--that will lead to meaningful change in society." -- Amazon.com

Contents:

1 The Need for Purpose 1

Education and a Sense of Purpose 7

2 Our Past Priorities 17

The Colonial Period 17

American Education in the Nineteenth Century 19

Progressive Period 21

Post-Progressive Era and the Conservative Movement 23

The Pendulum Swings of American Educational Philosophy 27

3 Our Current Priorities 31

College and Career Ready 31

Teacher Effectiveness 40

Assessment and Measurement 43

Back to the Basics 46

4 Society's Needs and Values 55

Civic Needs 57

Economic Needs 59

Social Needs 61

What the Public Wants 72

5 Finding a Noble Purpose 83

A Purpose That Inspires 83

Out with Reform and in with Revolution 86

Assessment and Accountability 92

Creating the Village 96

Implications for the Curriculum 101

Implications for Instruction 108

Implications for Society 115

6 Conclusion 119.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9781475823356

1475823355

9781475823363

1475823363

OCLC:

914224184