By Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh (Click here to view the entire P&R issue) Polikoff offers a persuasive proposal to dismantle America’s ghettos. I leave to others a critique of its technocratic merits. Instead, I address the sociological underpinning, as it is a most elegant rendition of the liberal hymn for social justice. Polikoff’s spirited argument presupposes a folk … [Read more...] about “We Must Acknowledge How Poor People Live” by Sudhir Alladi Venkatesh (January-February 2005 P&R Issue)
poverty and race
“Family and School Matter” by Krista Kafer (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
By Krista Kafer (Click here to view the entire P&R issue) Richard Rothstein is right. His new book Class and Schools underscores what researchers like James Coleman, Derek Neal and Christopher Jencks have been saying for decades: Life outside of school is the greatest predictor of success in school. Richard Rothstein is right. His new book Class and Schools … [Read more...] about “Family and School Matter” by Krista Kafer (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
“What Teachers Know” by Mark Simon (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
By Mark Simon (Click here to view the entire P&R issue) For teachers, the most disheartening aspect of the Administration’s “No Child Left Behind” agenda is the dishonesty in the goals and supposed success stories. No responsible educator disagrees with the stated purpose of leaving no child behind and closing the achievement gap, but we must begin with the truth. For … [Read more...] about “What Teachers Know” by Mark Simon (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
“Even the Best Schools Can’t Do It Alone” by Richard Rothstein (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
By Richard Rothstein (Click here to view the entire P&R issue) At a time when the No Child Left Behind Act all but monopolizes the debate on school reform, Richard Rothstein raises important points that underscore the broader context of public education—a context that deserves to be taken seriously now more than ever. To be sure, schools will benefit when policymakers … [Read more...] about “Even the Best Schools Can’t Do It Alone” by Richard Rothstein (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
“Inequality and the Schoolhouse” by Stan Karp (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
By Stan Karp (Click here to view the entire P&R issue) Richard Rothstein asks how much schools can be expected to overcome the staggering inequality that continues to define our society. It’s the right question. Educational inequality—whose manifestations go well beyond test score gaps—is perhaps the central problem our schools face. How we deal with it will go a long … [Read more...] about “Inequality and the Schoolhouse” by Stan Karp (September-October 2004 P&R Issue)
