Barriers to Excellence

The Changes Needed for Our Schools

By (author) Betsy Gunzelmann

Publication date:

07 June 2012

Length of book:

108 pages

Publisher

R&L Education

ISBN-13: 9781610485784

Barriers to Excellence: The Changes Needed for Our Schools brings a new and different viewpoint to our educational problems in the United States. The reasons behind the academic decline we have seen over the last several decades, the continued inequity in our schools, and the frustration with inconsistent and inadequate policies, procedures and support will be addressed in this eye-opening book. Barriers to Excellence discuses the obstacles we face to regain our academic distinction. We need to look at the bigger picture when it comes to attaining educational excellence in the United States.

Part I: Our Broken System: Understanding Barriers to Excellence
Chapter One: There Is Trouble in Our Schools:
A Historical Overview of Barriers & Imbalance
Chapter Two: Rescuing Our Schools: Perspectives of Leaders,
Reformers and Entrepreneurs
Chapter Three: The Gathering of Data from Many Directions

Part II: The Barriers to Excellence
Chapter Four: Society& Cultural: First, Most Complex and Controversial
of the Barriers to Excellence
Chapter Five: Political Barriers to Excellence: Multifaceted and Difficult,
but Not Impossible to Resolve
Chapter Six: Economic Barriers to Excellence
Chapter Seven: Psychological Barriers to Educational Excellence
Chapter Eight:EducationalIssues: Process& Logistical Barriers

Part III:Towards Educational Excellence and Beyond
Chapter Nine: Breaking Down the Barriers & Restoring Balance
Chapter Ten: Education: Our Key to Future Success

References

There is an emerging story in America about education and justice that many are willing to tell and some extraordinary few, like Betsy Gunzelmann, are able to document. The book may be appear thin, but the argument is rich, intriguingly researched, and painfully powerful. Barriers to Excellence is really a story of contemporary America. It should be widely read, here and abroad, but what is that expression: Read it and weep.