History Books

The Race between Education and Technology

Claudia Goldin, Lawrence F. Katz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This book provides a careful historical analysis of the co-evolution of educational attainment and the wage structure in the United States through the twentieth century. The authors propose that the twentieth century was not only the American Century but also the Human Capital Century. That is, the American educational system is what made America the richest nation in the world. Its educational system had always been less elite than that of most European nations. By 1900 the U.S. had begun to educate its masses at the secondary level, not just in the primary schools that had remarkable success in the nineteenth century.

The book argues that technological change, education, and inequality have been involved in a kind of race. During the first eight decades of the twentieth century, the increase of educated workers was higher than the demand for them. This had the effect of boosting income for most people and lowering inequality. However, the reverse has been true since about 1980. This educational slow-down was accompanied by rising inequality. The authors discuss the complex reasons for this, and what might be done to ameliorate it.

Dumbing Us Down: The Hidden Curriculum of Compulsory Schooling

John Taylor Gatto

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 123 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

great for the most part 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This is a great book for the most part. Although I agree with many of his points, I disagree in the part where he proposes a reform that requires mandatory community service. In the book he mostly says that people do well when they aren't made to do something, and yes community service is great but it shouldn't be forced on people, and people should have the option to decide if that is what they want to do. That's what freedom is all about.

He's right about school. My experience in school felt like a prison, where my teachers didn't take me seriously, they sometimes liked humiliating me and my classmates, and honestly to this day, I have zero respect for teachers. I can't look back on a teacher that I actually liked. Many of them just made me follow dumb rules that had nothing to do with learning but about respecting authority.

Even as a college student, I feel that college is just another scam, its not about learning but about getting that degree so you can get a good job. Getting As and Bs isn't a sign of intelligence, but a sign that you did the work the way that your teacher wanted you to. I think true learning occurs when you are accountable to yourself for your own education.

Editorial Review:

This radical treatise on public education has been a New Society Publishers' bestseller for 10 years! Thirty years of award-winning teaching in New York City's public schools led John Gatto to the sad conclusion that compulsory governmental schooling does little but teach young people to follow orders as cogs in the industrial machine. In celebration of the ten-year anniversary of Dumbing Us Down and to keep this classic current, we are renewing the cover art, adding new material about John and the impact of the book, and a new Foreword.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

James W. Loewen

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Subjects -> History -> Historical Study -> Historiography

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 423 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Winner of the American Book Award and the Oliver C. Cox
Anti-Racism Award of The American Sociological Association

Americans have lost touch with their history, and in Lies My Teacher Told Me Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying eighteen leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past.

In this revised edition, packed with updated material, Loewen explores how historical myths continue to be perpetuated in today's climate and adds an eye-opening chapter on the lies surrounding 9/11 and the Iraq War. From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders, Loewen revives our history, restoring the vitality and relevance it truly possesses.

Thought provoking, nonpartisan, and often shocking, Loewen unveils the real America in this iconoclastic classic beloved by high school teachers, history buffs, and enlightened citizens across the country.

Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years, Fourth Edition

Karen Levin Coburn, Madge Lawrence Treeger

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 26 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

It was ok... not great 3 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Honestly, I stopped reading it halfway through. This was one of those books that could have been great, however, it is just OK. As a parent, I am actively engaged in my kids' lives. We talk. When they come home from school we eat dinner together. Since I pay the tuition bill, I see their report card. My wife and I discuss things twice before discussing them with our kids. We strive to give the best advice possible. I just didn't feel I needed the hand holding that this book offered. (For that matter, neither did my wife.)

If you want to understand college, read a book written by a college student. Heck, read a funny, irreverent book written by a college student. This book will at least give you an idea of what it is like in the trenches, College 101: The Book Your College Does Not Want You to Read

Editorial Review:

Letting Go is about what it feels like for parents when their kids go off to college. Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger provide a compassionate approach, practical information, and advice about the physical and emotional processes of letting go. They discuss the college-age child's search for identity, independence, and intimacy; give a succinct and accurate description of how college life has changed over the decades; and provide a year-by-year breakdown of what to expect. Plus, you can read about typical and not-so-typical problems including date rape, crime, eating disorders, drug and alcohol use, and sexual issues. Of special note is the focus on orientation and the freshman year, including the disorientation parents feel once the drop-off has been made.

Interactive 3-D Maps: American History: Easy-to-Assemble 3-D Maps That Students Make and Manipulate to Learn Key Facts and Concepts-in a Kinesthetic Way!

Donald M. Silver, Patricia J. Wynne

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Subjects -> Nonfiction -> Education -> Elementary School -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Differentiated Instruction made easy 5 out of 5 stars.
10 of 11 people found this review helpful.

The day after I received this book I used one of the ready made activities in my fifth grade classroom. The kids loved it! I like the fact that it incorporates visual, auditory, tactile and kinesthetics into teaching history. Also a great value - this book was twice the price at a local store.

Wonderful resource for all of U.S. History, very effective! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

Why just read about where people traveled? Make your own map of it! This is such a wonderful product, I wish there was one for World History so my children could visually follow Alexander the Great or Marco Polo on his journeys at younger ages.

This is not a difficult craft book, it is quite easy and well worth it. My 7 year old daughter loves it.

Editorial Review:

Help students make the connection between key historical events, geography, and people with this collection of diorama-like maps. Each map highlights an important route in history, such as the Mayflower’s voyage, Lewis and Clark’s exploration, the Trail of Tears, the Transcontinental Railroad, and more. Students manipulate movable pieces across the maps to bolster their learning.

The New Meaning of Educational Change, Fourth Edition

Michael Fullan

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Educational Change in Concept 5 out of 5 stars.
13 of 14 people found this review helpful.

Why the hell is it that the more things change, the more things seem to stay the same? Educational change expert Michael Fullan takes a crack at this proverbial school reform conundrum in the third edition of his book, The New Meaning of Educational Change. According to him, "Reform is not just putting into place the latest policy. It means changing the cultures of the classrooms, the schools, the districts, the universities, and so on. There is more to educational change than most people realize" (p. 7). Restructuring schools and education has been relatively simple, says Fullan; re-culturing them has not. For change to be substantive and long lasting, improving and strengthening relationships among various stakeholders is the key.

Fullan divides his book into three parts: understanding educational change; change at the local level; and change at the global level. In the first part, he distinguishes between subjective and objective meanings of educational change, but in an awkward manner. Drawing from Dan Lortie's work on the sociology of teaching, his main argument is that teaching is a lonely profession without a well-developed shared technical culture, which leads invariably to widespread uncertainty, fragmentation, and haphazardness--all impediments to educational change. He does not explicitly describe the differences or importance of either concept, but leaves the reader with the ultimate impression that three dimensions undergird the implementation of change: "the possible use of... new or revised materials... teaching approaches... and the alteration of beliefs" (p. 39). According to Fullan, most educational reforms are ephemeral or shallow because they have grossly overlooked the importance of the third dimension (beliefs), unsurprisingly. He often distinguishes between change and the "process" of change with a 25/75 rule: educational change is 25% structural (ideas), 75% re-culturing (processes).

Fullan uses the last two parts to provide insights about adoption and implementation of policies geared toward educational change through the lens of the various stakeholders involved (teacher, principal, parent, student, school board, etc.). He is careful not to make sweeping generalizations, and has a nose for local idiosyncrasies. His most pronounced clarion call, however, is for the scaling up of whole school reform and professional learning communities (the latter fits well with his claim that beliefs are the hardest dimension to alter). Shared meaning of educational change is only possible through allowing stakeholders more transparency into each other's roles and promoting more collaboration between groups.

In each chapter, Fullan shores up his arguments with major research studies, and often expresses the findings axiomatically: For example, poorly performing schools showed "little or no attention to schoolwide problems" (p. 121). This is not a bad thing. It just makes the reader think, "Duh!?!?" Somewhat annoying was Fullan's tendency to whitewash other findings using fluffy, catch-phrases with no meat. For instance, in discussing the efficacy of the principal, he writes: "effective leaders are energy creators" (p. 149). Overall, however, for a book about a complex phenomenon like change, it is highly readable, consistent, and insightful. Those expecting a recipe book about wielding change in schools might be somewhat disappointed; however, those who just need a little inspiration and conceptual insight might find exactly what they are looking for.

Editorial Review:

When Michael Fullan published the first edition of this seminal work in 1982, he revolutionized the theory and practice of education reform. Now, a quarter of a century later, his new fourth edition promises to be equally influential for radical reform in the 21st century. Capturing the dilemmas and leading ideas for successful large-scale systemic reform, Fullan bases his text on practical and fundamental work with education systems in several countries. The New Meaning of Educational Change is your definitive compendium to all aspects of the management of educational change-a powerful resource for everyone involved in school reform.

Marva Collins' Way: Updated

Marva Collins

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 36 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Marva is a teacher one would want for every child on earth! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

I read about 70 pages of the book and unfortunately lost it during my travel. I will be buying this book again. Marva is an extraordinary teacher who has taught me at my middle age that NO CHILD CAN FAIL TO SUCCEED in school. She has achieved this with such re-sounding success that one would want to have a teacher like her for all children in the world. I have no words to express how great the feeling is when you know that every child has all the potential to succeed.

this lady is amazing! a genius! 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 2 people found this review helpful.

marva collins is such an idol and inspiration for me. she is so full of morals and has a brilliant answer for all of life's problems. get this book if you want to hear the most intelligent things from the most intelligent human being walking the earth! she is HIGHLY underrated as an educator and everything! i really needed to find her b/c as she says, "in this slippery world we all need something to hold onto...." thank you Marva, I love you and God bless you!

Editorial Review:

Marva Collins offers a beacon of hope in the midst of America's educational crises. Collins recounts her successful teaching strategies and offers inspirational advice on how to motivate children to fulfill their potential. This updated edition contains a new epilogue for parents and teachers.

The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School

Neil Postman

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A passionate call for meaningful narratives in our schools... 4 out of 5 stars.
9 of 10 people found this review helpful.

My name is Mark and I was an 'A' student. I did well on tests, impressed my teachers, and was generally viewed as a star student. The one blight on my record was a mediocre grade in my A.P. English class in high school. Something about the class disturbed my complacent performance and ignited a spark of resistence and non-cooperation. I couldn't bring myself to answer the questions posed by the teacher, on plot, or character, or theme, or setting, with any real attention or engagement. What was lacking there - and most conspicuously in the realm of literature - was any kind of focus on meaningful narratives, or meaningful readings. It wasn't until the summer after my first year in college that I was motivated to pursue those meaningful narrratives on my own.
Neil Postman's The End of Education argues for the reinstatement of meaningful narratives into elementary and secondary education. He has written a manifesto for resurrecting the question of purpose and the enactment of value in our schools. The seeming pessimism of the title is aimed at articulating the nature of a problem of decadence that has been undermining the essential values and qualities of education. Yet Postman does not stop at articulating the problem. The book is about suggesting solutions, and even more so, Postman suggests a way of thinking that will generate solutions as situations demand them. Here is book that has the capacity to motivate and inspire. It should be read by everyone who has any involvement at all with education, as a reminder why an education system exists in this country at all and why it should continue to exist in the future.

Editorial Review:

Postman suggests that the current crisis in our educational system derives from its failure to supply students with a translucent, unifying "narrative" like those that inspired earlier generations. Instead, today's schools promote the false "gods" of economic utility, consumerism, or ethnic separatism and resentment. What alternative strategies can we use to instill our children with a sense of global citizenship, healthy intellectual skepticism, respect of America's traditions, and appreciation of its diversity? In answering this question, The End of Education restores meaning and common sense to the arena in which they are most urgently needed.

"Informal and clear...Postman's ideas about education are appealingly fresh."--New York Times Book Review

A History of American Higher Education

John R. Thelin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 3.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Colleges and universities are among the most cherished institutions in American society—and also among the most controversial. Yet affirmative action and skyrocketing tuition are only the most recent dissonant issues to emerge. Recounting the many crises and triumphs in the long history of American higher education, historian John Thelin provides welcome perspective on this influential aspect of American life.

In A History of American Higher Education, Thelin offers a wide-ranging and engaging account of the origins and evolution of America's public and private colleges and universities, emphasizing the notion of saga—the proposition that institutions are heirs to numerous historical strands and numerous attempts to address such volatile topics as institutional cost and effectiveness, admissions and access, and the character of the curriculum. Thelin draws on both official institutional histories and the informal memories that constitute legends and lore to offer a fresh interpretation of an institutional past that reaches back to the colonial era and encompasses both well-known colleges and universities and such understudied institutions as community, women's, and historically black colleges, proprietary schools, and freestanding professional colleges.

Thelin's lively history has particular relevance for a society still struggling to determine what constitutes a legitimate field of study, reminding readers that Harvard once used its medical school as a safe place to admit the sons of wealthy alumni who could not pass the undergraduate college admissions examination and that the University of Pennsylvania once considered the study of history, government, and economics unworthy of addition to the liberal arts curriculum. Thelin also addresses the role of local, state, and federal governments in colleges and universities, as well as the influence of private foundations and other organizations. And through imaginative interpretation of films, novels, and popular magazines, he illuminates the convoluted relationship between higher education and American culture. For anyone attempting to understand America's colleges and universities, A History of American Higher Education offers a much-needed challenge to conventional wisdom about how these institutions developed and functioned in the past.

Stories from Mexico : Historias de Mexico

Genevieve Barlow, William N. Stivers

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Subjects -> History -> Europe -> Spain
Subjects -> Literature & Fiction -> Foreign Language Fiction -> Spanish

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Great reader for the intermediate language learner 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I have had trouble finding side-by-side readers appropriate for my level. (I would say I am at an intermediate to advanced-intermediate level) This book is perfect for my level, in fact, the best I have found so far. The stories are normally around three to four pages long and interesting. Another book I would recommend is "First Spanish Reader."

excellent book 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is a fantastic book for Spanish review and practice. Very easy to check yourself and translate vocabulary because of the accurate English translations. The stories give you cultural insight,as well.

Great bilingual book 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

Great book, interesting stories and legends from Mexico. Intermediate level Spanish, or a little above. The short 2-3 page stories are a good introduction to some of the legends of Mexico. I enjoyed having the side-by-side translation; it made it easier to understand the full translation. not just word by word text. Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

These 16 legends, drawn from 1500 years of Mexican history are told in Spanish and English, on facing pages, and with end vocabulary lists in both languages.