|
Through his writings and speeches, Alfie Kohn has been
stirring up controversy for years, demonstrating how the
conventional wisdom about education often isn't
supported by the available research, and illuminating
the gaps between our long-term goals for students and
what actually goes on in schools. Now, What to Look for
in a Classroom brings together his most popular articles
from Educational Leadership, Phi Delta Kappan, and
Education Week - and also from the Atlantic Monthly, the
Boston Globe, and other publications.
From self-esteem to school uniforms, from grade
inflation to character education, Kohn raises a series
of provocative questions about the status quo in this
collection of incisive essays. He challenges us to
reconsider some of our most basic assumptions about
children and education. Can good values really be
"instilled" in students? What, if anything, lies behind
the label of attention-deficit disorder? Are there good
data to support our skepticism about watching TV? Might
such allegedly enlightened practices as "authentic
assessment," "logical consequences," and "Total Quality
education" turn out to be detrimental? Whether he is
explaining why cooperative learning can be so
threatening or why detracking is so fiercely opposed,
Kohn offers a fresh, informed, and frequently
disconcerting perspective on the major issues in
education.
In the end, his critical examination of current practice
is complemented by a vision of what schooling ought to
be. Kohn argues for giving children more opportunity to
participate in their own schooling, for transforming
classrooms into caring communities, and for providing
the kind of education that taps and nourishes children's
curiosity. Through all these essays, Kohn calls us back
to our own ideals, showing us how we can be more
effective at helping students to become good learners
and good people. |
|
“Renowned educator Kohn delivers an important,
comprehensive collection of essays. . . . [His] message,
if heeded, could inspire a productive revolution in
America’s fatigued regime of public education.”
--
Publishers Weekly [starred review]
“Of the
dozens of ‘experts’ on what’s wrong (and right) in U.S.
schools, only a handful are truly worth reading; Kohn
has long been one of the soundest. His willingness not
simply to challenge conventional answers but also
examine whether we’re asking the right questions
gives his work a genuinely eye-opening quality. . . Most
readers will respond to at least one of Kohn’s essays
with a surprised ‘Gee, I never thought of it that way.’”
--
Booklist |
