Book Review

After you read the book, write a 1000-1500 word review, emphasizing how the major themes and issues discussed in it connect to our discussion about schooling and society in this course. Why were you interested in the book and did it answer most of your questions about the major theme, or change your perspective about it? Did the author or authors conduct research and how did they do it? If the book focuses on the history of education, how does it compare to the book we read about the history of schools? If racial or gender inequality is a major theme, what did your book add to what we have already read about that theme? If the book focuses on a specific issue or problem like violence in schools, how does the author connect the issue to problems in society as a whole, and what does he or she think we should do about it? If the book provides a broad overview of education reform or the role of schooling in society (i.e. the books on the list by Mike Rose, Darling-Hammond , Wendy Kopp. E.D. Hirsch and several others) What does this book teach us about schools and society? Consider the roles of policy makers, educators, citizens and parents; diversity and equality; educational reform; the impact of social problems on education; policy issues; the history of American education; global perspectives and whatever seems most important to you. Does the author identify problems or suggest that we reform the educational system or change the way that we think about it? What does the author base his/her conclusions on?