7 Books About Education Reform

Education is a valuable part of our society. It ensures that students have the proper tools to succeed in their careers and life. Therefore, it’s essential to evaluate the current education system. Here are seven books about education reform teachers may want to read. 

1. American Education: A History 

This book discusses the history of the American education system. It even explores Native American education before colonization occurred. It covers the major educational movements of each period. The book is chronologically organized, making it easy to follow. It even offers coverage of minorities and women. 

It is one of the best books about education reform because it’s an excellent starting point. Instructors can use the content to understand how the system has evolved. They will learn what policies worked before. Then they can implement them within their classroom. Also, some older tactics can be adopted and improved to fit the times. 

2. Savage Inequalities

The novel addresses the financial gap between schools in wealthy and poorer areas. The author, Jonathon Kozul, spent two years touring the country and interviewing educators.

He visited places such as Illinois and Washington. He found that the urban schools he visited were overcrowded and understaffed. Some of the essential elements, like books and classrooms, were also lacking. 

This book addresses the current divide, helping influence educators to advocate for equality. In fact, the wealthiest school districts receive 15.6% more funds than poorer areas. With unequal funding, those in well-off neighborhoods receive more advantages later in life. So, it’s crucial teachers speak up on this issue. 

3. What Does It Mean to Be Well Educated?

The book includes a series of essays about how the education system values scores and grades. However, the author, Alfie Kohn, believes this isn’t the best approach. 

Kohn’s discussion of a standard practice makes it one of the best books about education reform. Testing is one of the primary ways to determine a student’s success in class. 

Standardized testing can help assess progress and highlight areas for improvement. Yet, they can also put additional stress on students. Therefore, professors should consider if testing is the most effective method. They may want to consider alternatives, like a paper or presentation. 

4. Waiting for “Superman”: How We Can Save America’s Failing Public Schools 

Waiting for “Superman” takes knowledge from experts in education reform. The book provides the reader with insights and resources to help improve our schools. Expert opinions come from those leading educational innovations, such as Bill Gates.

These suggestions can help educators make a difference in their community. Education reform is important since 1.2 million students drop out of high school each year. Ensuring students get the proper education is also critical to our economy’s success. 

5. The Life and Death of the American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education 

The author, Diane Ravitch, is a former assistant secretary of education. She is an advocate of a national curriculum. In her book, she uses her experiences to make a case for education reform. She covers popular ideas for restructuring schools, like privatization and standardized testing. Yet, she concludes the business model is not a practical approach. 

Here are some of the solutions she offers instead:

• Leaves decisions about school policy to educators, not politicians 
• Set up a national curriculum with clear expectations for everyone
• Have charter schools educate kids that need the most help
• Pay teachers a fair wage
• Encourage family involvement in education 

6. Teaching Community: A Pedagogy of Hope

The book is one of the best books about education reform because it tackles the issues within the system. It covers topics such as race and gender inside and outside the classroom. It reminds us of the importance of acceptance within the system. The author also includes autobiographical narratives. 

She addresses topics such as racism and white supremacy. She makes the point, “no one is born a racist, but everyone makes a choice.” 

Therefore, the book can inspire teachers to evaluate how they handle these issues. They should create a safe space for students to speak about their own experiences. To help teachers address these issues, they may want to do some additional reading. The book, Race Talk When Diversity Equals One, is an excellent place to start. 

7. The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything

The book explores the importance of creativity and finding your passion. It includes stories from a variety of inspiring people, such as Pual McCartney. The author explores the elements that enable us to find ourselves and those that hinder this. The story shows how innovation is an essential strategy for transforming education. 

Teachers can help students to find their passions. The book may inspire instructors, making it one of the best books about education reform. When reading it, instructors will learn how they can encourage their student’s interests. 

To help students, they can start by asking them about their hobbies. Also, the topics they spend time reading about can help them discover their passions. 

Best Books About Education Reform

The education system is constantly changing. These updates must help students to succeed in life. Consult this list of books about education reform to make positive improvements.