It is the contention of this provocative book that the deteriorating state of America's public school system is actually a reflection of the problems of our culture and society. In Waiting for a Miracle, James. P. Comer, M.D., director of the Yale University Child Study Center and the author of Maggie's American Dream and co-author of Raising Black Children, outlines the causes of these afflictions and presents an inspiring paradigm for a new way of thinking and acting with regard to children and family.At the root of the malaise, he states, is a social failure to make a commitment to families, to community and to child development. Rampant individualism and racism have undermined support for institutions and policies that could create a bedrock upon which disadvantaged and struggling students and families can build.

Using many examples from his personal experience of growing up poor, and from more than thirty years of community involvement, Comer argues that schools can be the most important instrument of change in a society. He spells out how private, public, and non-profit sectors can collaborate to enable children, families, and communities to survive and thrive.While Comer convincingly argues that eroded financial support for schools and other institutions must be restored and improved, he also demonstrates that this will only be effective when we have restored economic opportunity, well-functioning families, and a sense of community and common cause. In short, the only way to improve our schools is to restore our vision of a democratic society.