Sandra Stotsky Libri

Discusses the history, culture, and religion of the Germans, factors encouraging their emigration, and their acceptance as the United States' largest ethnic group

Focusing on the challenges and strategies involved in improving education for low-achieving students, the book explores various initiatives aimed at enhancing academic performance. It delves into systemic efforts, innovative teaching methods, and community involvement that seek to uplift educational standards and outcomes for marginalized groups. Through case studies and research, it highlights successes and ongoing obstacles in the quest for equitable education.

The book critiques the inadequate licensing system for teachers in the country, arguing that it has led to a diminished curriculum that fails to equip students with essential knowledge and skills for self-governance. It highlights the consequences of this educational shortfall and calls for a reevaluation of teacher qualifications to enhance the quality of education.

The «standards wars» are another manifestation of the «culture wars.» Few educational policy makers understand the many disciplinary, pedagogical, and curricular issues occuring at the heart of the conflicts as states develop or revise their K-12 standards and standards-based assessments in the major subjects. The issues differ from subject to subject. This collection of essays addresses the issues that have arisen in the development and implementation of national and state standards in science, mathematics, history, economics, and the English language arts from the perspective of scholars in those disciplines. These scholars are writing not for other scholars in their field but for those who help shape K-12 educational policy legislators, members of boards of education, and those who teach courses in government or education policy making. The purpose of this collection is to clarify what is at stake in the standards wars and in standards-based systemic reform.

The book delves into the dysfunction of public education in the United States, tracing its roots to federal education policies and programs aimed at improving low academic achievement. It critically analyzes how these initiatives have contributed to the current challenges faced by the education system, highlighting the unintended consequences of well-meaning reforms. Through this exploration, it offers insights into the complexities of educational funding and policy-making.

The book addresses the critical need for experienced educators to create challenging literature curricula to elevate high school students' reading levels, which currently stagnate around fifth or sixth grade. It critiques education policymakers and test developers who hinder the inclusion of appropriately difficult texts in high school, arguing that such obstacles prevent the establishment of a coherent literature curriculum. The author advocates for a reevaluation of educational practices to better prepare students for advanced reading and comprehension.