School Law and the Public Schools
939054
GREAT book!  the book itself was in very good shape!  Very helpful in class for what I'm studying, Thank you!
2665559
I use Dr. Furst's book in my School Community Relations course. It helps educators learn ways to explain what happens in their public and private schools better to parents and community members. It address some sensitive issues often surfaced at the intersection of schools and their communities: like student discipline, school funding and taxes, vouchers, religion, and race/diversity issues. Dr. Furst thinks clearly (I have known him for over a decade) and he writes well, having been a newspaper columnist in addition to being a veteran public and private school educator and leader.
958412
John Buell follows up his controversial book (written with Etta Kralovec) The End of Homework with a detailed reexamination of the role of homework in preparing American students for success in the global economy in his new book, Closing the Book on Homework: Enhancing Public Education and Freeing Family Time.  This time around, he does not argue for the abolishment of homework, but rather decides to examine the structural function of homework in educating students, the real-life implications of homework, and possible reforms in the methodology of assigning, grading, and reviewing homework in the classroom.

  For Buell, the function of contemporary homework models differs in theory and practice.  The ideal role of homework in traditional pedagogy is to reinforce classroom concepts in students' minds outside of school hours through practice and repetition.  However, he notes, this assumes a substantial grasp of the concepts by the students before they leave the classroom combined with a high level of parental engagement in helping the student complete their homework.  In practice, the amount of homework given at a school becomes a symbolic mark of academic excellence in the eyes of middle-class parents, who intimately recognize the importance of academic achievement in socioeconomic advancement.  Because the quality of a student's high school is a determinant in the quality of the university to which that student can gain admittance, high school administrations increase their students' homework loads to astronomical levels.  Buell's argument is that this backfires upon the students looking for an academic edge - this extraordinary focus on homework squeezes leisure time and extracurricular pursuits out of a child's life, while placing increasing demands on the parents' time and making both the child and the parents feel like failures if they cannot keep up with the rushing tide.

  From comparative studies of educational policies and pedagogies of other nations, as well as studies of homework's affect on academic achievement on standardized tests, Buell concludes that the benefits of homework are small, and when they do occur, they are found at the low end of the spectrum; when small amounts of homework are assigned each night, and only at the higher ages and grades.  To Buell, the contrast between the distribution of functional benefits of homework and the actual amount of homework assigned to students suggests that homework actually fills an unstated role in American public education.  Functionally, it works to socialize children to work long, hard hours on arbitrary tasks, preparing them for low-prestige occupations in their adult life.  Symbolically, it reinforces the social hierarchy present in the school, the factory, and the office.  The student and the worker are subjugated to the demands of the teacher and the manager, both of whom are again subjugated to the demands of their relative administrations, disengaging everyone from the ultimate purpose of their work.  It is worth noting, however, that Buell does not become overly bogged down in neo-Marxist rhetoric, preferring to rely on historical analysis and reform suggestions to make his points.

  Ultimately, Buell writes that the ideal goal of homework should be the development of the character of the student.  The form of this "character" he leaves up to the choice of the parents and the schools, but clearly it is not being communicated by homework in its current form.  If students are to learn at all from work that they do outside of school, then they must first understand and engage the concepts, they must have adequate time in which to do it, and they must have support from the home.  Finally, Buell says, the work must serve a purpose, simply occupying time through labor, while a clear contemporary pedagogical model, is not only inadequate, but downright harmful.
836853
Since the 1960s, public education has begun to focus on matters other than basic, or classical education.  The focus of public education has switched to downplay the content and manner of the classroom, and more on social agendas, be they liberal or conservative.  This book reminds the reader of what has been lost in this movement.  Not only is the substance of the well educated mind defined, a useful discussion of the dominant style of learning among three basic age groups is delineated. This book provides a helpful reminder of what education can - and should - be.  This book is recommended for the parent of a school-aged child who can benefit from the challenge put forth by the classical academy.
4529190
This book is well written and offers the law student or the practioner the necessary information on this important subject given our "current events".  Since I have a background in international export and trade enforcement (and further practice international business law and teach the subject at two Univeristy MBA programs), I enjoyed learning from Mr. Shanor and Mr. Hogue's review of the many subjects related to national security.  I thought the coverage and case law supporting the constitutional development of national security law in the USA was well done. I have little exposure to the military law issues but learned a great deal from my review of this book. This book is going on my office book shelf for easy reference when these issues arise in my international law practice.  Further, I think it is a book worth reading for those that are curious to know how the national security and military law developed and how it is applied today in our legal system. I highly recommend the book to those that are intellectually curious about our military legal system and the application of national security laws.
1997512
I taught at the same school with Mr. Gauger in S. C.  I can attest to the bullying which goes on between the administration and the staff.  The word of the students was taken over that of the teachers.  If a teacher was tough, expected high standards from their students or was honest when an opinion was asked, disgruntled students reported the teachers as bigots or tried to make trouble for them.  In one year at that school, which is in a "right to work" state, over 40 teachers were dismissed with little reason by the administration.  Teachers were afraid of the principal as he held their careers in his hands.
2456352
This book is a must read for any teacher and should be a mandatory read for any teacher and administrator in college teacher/administration preparation/certification programs. It illustrates just one of many examples of how the Chicago Board of Education law department systematically targets naive teachers of color by using kids to write false statements so the Board can terminate their employment and then force the teacher to maneuver through the legal system to obtain justice.
4264849
As a math teacher myself, I have become very concerned about how much is being required of students at lower and lower grades.  What was once a requirement of a seventh grader is now required of a fourth grade student.  This book exposes many of the fallacies of our current educational system as it applies to the study of mathematics.  I would like to see this book as required reading for all educators, especially those who are responsible for setting statewide curriculum requirements and college entrance requirements.
504087
This was a good put together book. Especially for a 12 yr old author. I wanted to read this book to see what is really going on in our public schools these days. I have children who unfortunately have to go to the public schools here. Not all of the public school life is bad. I do like what the author fins important and understand what children are feeling these days about school. I appreciate what the information the book offers. It gives me a huge perspective regarding the matter. If you want to see how your children feel in these desperate times of American education,this is a grat book to read.
2648885
As students of U.S. history know, the Supreme Court decision in the Dred Scott case was one of the major causes leading up to the Civil War.  Prof. Finkelman has provided a valuable educational tool that will help students understanding this important part of our history.  His clear and concise explanation of the case, including an analysis of the majority opinion, concurring opinions, and dissenting opinions, and other relevant aspects, is well-researched and well-written.  He also includes excerpts from the Supreme Court's opinion so that readers can examine it and draw their own conclusions.  Any serious student of U.S. history, particularly of the Civil War period and the events leading up to it, should own a copy of this book.
2951676
Mrs Morgan's book is an indictment as well as hope for our broken Public School System here in NY and probably the rest of America.

She gives us an  inside view from an African American teacher dealing with children, parents and Administrators who are historically unkind to black children.

It is sad to read that there have not been many changes in eduuating black children since Brown vs Board of ED.  BUT, I am sure Ameerica will "Step up to the Plate" and make huge much needed improvements.

Thank you Ms Morgan

Darrell W. Pone,MD
Old Westbury, NY
2111161
I appreciated the wealth of knowledge presented throughout this textbook and use it for my Graduate classes.  See especially the Chapter on Professional Dispositions by Dr. Susan Dunkle and Dr. Kelly Ahuna.  This article is helpful for professional stakeholders that work with P-12 Student Teacher Candidates.  The guidance in this chapter assists professors and others in discussing professional responsibilities and expectations.
1627084
Used this product in a class and found it to be a fairly easy read. It really is a great book on the subject matter of relating public management to the US Constitution.
2046202
This was a  very helpful tool to understanding constitutional law.  It is such a broad topic, there was no way to cover everything in class as thoroughly as this book does.  The Contents section of the book is also very useful for a checklist for an outline for exam prep.
1669300
This is an excellent dictionary for legal research and school.  The book is nice looking and looks good on a library shelf also.
1058059
The book is superb! Not only is enlightening about the problems affecting all public schools in the United States today, but it reads as a thriller. This book should be read by everyone who cares about their school system: every parent should use this to be informed and to ask the right questions about their children school system. Although I had read the book a few months ago, "Undoing the Damage" came to my mind recently when I saw the video of a teacher being arrested for asking questions about a superintendent's own raise of salary: this is exactly the style of problems that Corrales encountered, and he later gives steps to prevent. I highly recommend this book.
3357679
The authors make the case for parent involvement by providing a clear picture of America's public school system.  Without providing a blanket criticism of all schools and teachers, parents are reminded that only they can make sure their children receive the education they need to become successful citizens.  By listing curriculum objectives by grade level they empower parents to ask questions about what their child is learning.  Suggestions for working within the system - and within the family to supplement the system - are provided.  Every parent should be this involved.