"This book relates a sad tale of the failure of public education to live up to its promise as the great equalizer in the US. Stotsky (emer., Univ. of Arkansas) lays out the kinds of social, political, fiscal, and educational problems that have led to a general lack of post-high school readiness for college, the workforce, and civic engagement. There is no doubt that the issues she raises, from the absence of a rigorous curriculum to disengaged caregivers and students, the quality of teacher preparation, and political agendas, all play a role. What is missing, however, is a clear set of guidelines for turning this ship around. Stotsky rightly argues that "gap closing" in and of itself is not a viable educational goal because there never has been any consensus on what Americans, as a nation, mean by achievement, much less on how to attain or measure it. Summing Up: Recommended.
Upper-division undergraduates." -- Choice Reviews "The Roots of Low Achievement compiles all the evidence you need to show how badly the student-centered, gap-closing orientation has failed--not just to prepare students for college, but for life. It''s time to remove people who presided over those failures from any further efforts." -- The James G. Martin Center for Academic Renewal "Whether you are a teacher, administrator or parent, in The Roots of Low Achievement, Sandra Stotsky provides an excellent summary of American education history covering the major players, policies and failures in K-12 education from the last 120 years. If we are to "fix" education, we need to know what has been tried, its efficacy and whether we are even pursuing the appropriate goal. Relatively short, easy to digest chapters that hit the highlights of education policy and research are conveniently summed up in Key Ideas to Remember at the end of each chapter. The book ends with a set of interesting recommendations for what we can do to begin strengthening the school curriculum for all students, including our poorest education performers, as well as the academic backgrounds of prospective and practicing teachers.
We also need to begin needed national discussions about the purpose that parents and others want for our public schools--gap closing, curriculum choice in high school, participatory activities outside of the schools, workforce development, or something else?" --Anne Gassel, Co-Editor, Missouri Education Watchdog "Parents are increasingly aware that "something" is wrong in public education The Roots of Low Achievement helps parents identify what''s not working: Centralized educational programs based on reaching equity, not individual student academic excellence. How do we increase the decision-making authority of parents, teachers, and local schools in educational policies? Stotsky offers ideas which should ignite discussions between parents, state legislators, school boards, administrators and teachers who are seriously alarmed at the continuing failed educational polices over the last several decades." --Gretchen Logue, Co-Editor, Missouri Education Watchdog "Unlike most pundits eager to foist yet another policy fad on the US education system, Sandra Stotsky has actually put in the long hours working out the details, reaching consensus, making adjustments, and managing systemwide solutions that work. Her patient work was integral to the Massachusetts education miracle, the envy of 49 states. An internationally-known and highly-respected scholar as well as an accomplished state government administrator, Stotsky epitomizes the successful application of research to practice. Her measured words carry the weight of reason and experience and should be read by anyone wishing to improve our schools'' work." --Richard P. Phelps, founder of Nonpartisan Education Review; author and editor of "Correcting Fallacies about Educational and Psychological Testing" (APA) and "Standardized Testing Primer" (Peter Lang) ""No excuses" has been a rallying call for those who will not accept the blame shifting that perpetuates an education system that betrays America''s school children and compromises the future of our nation.
Dr. Stotsky digs deeply and analytically into the root causes of low achievement. Her important study clears the way for a new understanding and new action to educate for informed citizenship and a satisfying future." --Michael B. Poliakoff, President, American Council of Trustees and Alumni "Sandra Stotsky''s thoughtful and provocative book compels us to provide equitable education standards that uplift all students. Watering down curriculum and pedagogy only serves to widen an achievement gap based on one''s zip code. Language and reasoning, then, must be at the forefront for forging civic dialogue. This book is a must read for constructing a civic ethos.
" --David C. Harrington, Mayor of Bladensburg, Maryland (1995-2002), member of Prince George''s County Council (2002-2008), and Maryland State Senator (2008-2011) "For more than fifty years K-12 educators have championed "school reform," yet student learning does not appear to have improved to any considerable degree. An experienced analyst of education, Sandra Stotsky has written a powerful new book that reviews this sad history. She notes that policy makers have not learned from either failed or effective policies. Most importantly, Stotsky concludes that, particularly for low achieving students, the ideal of equality of citizenship in America''s constitutional democracy needs to be restored as the goal of K-12 public education." --John D. Fonte, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for American Common Culture, Hudson Institute; Senior Researcher, U.S.
Department of Education (1984-1992).