Books worth reading: Class and Schools; The World is Flat.

In Class and Schools Richard Rothstein explains why children with social and economic disadvantages will never achieve, on average, as high as students who are not economically disadvantaged. The importance of the book is that it serves as a counter-argument to the often held belief that "if schools would just do a better job, if teachers would just teach, then all children could achieve at high levels." In fact, Rothstein makes the argument that such thinking is even dangerous because it allows policy makers to ignore the conditions in which students living in poverty must endure as they create school accountability expectations that will never be met by school reform alone.

Rothstein cites a litany of conditions such as child rearing practices, racial discrimination, health issues, lead exposure, birth weight, housing, and mobility that have a bearing on how students will succeed in school. He makes the point (over and over) that while not every child will be negatively affected by these conditions, on average, students living in poverty are more likely to be negatively affected than students of affluence.

Class and Schools also includes a chapter that highlights some of the untold stories of schools that seem to have overcome the achievement gap. According to Rothstein, these schools rarely share all of the same characteristics of schools that commonly serve the poor. For example, he points out that one well-known school thought to have overcome the achievement gap through educational reform also served as a demonstration site for a team of optometrists who treated the vision problems (not merely acuity) of all students over a multi-year period.

Rothstein, a speaker at ACSA's Annual Conference last November, seemed to have deflated a sense of efficacy for many who attended his workshop. The problems he presents can seem overwhelming and too costly to ever believe they will be addressed. However, Rothstein quotes educator and former Sen. Moynihan: "We can make big strides in narrowing the student achievement gap, but only by directing greater attention to economic and social reforms that narrow the differences in background characteristics with which children come to school." Rothstein urges educators "to call attention to the consequences for children's achievement of the social and economic hardships their families may suffer." Educators who study this book will be able to present the facts in order to do exactly that. Richard Rothstein. (2004). "Class and Schools: Using Social, Economic, and Educational Reform to Close the Black-White Achievement Gap." Washington, D.C. Economic Policy Institute, Teachers College, Columbia University. ISBN # 1932066098.

The national best-seller, The World is Flat, is considered by many to be a sort of "wake up call" to America about the globalization of the world economy, especially the likelihood that the United States is likely not to be the dominant force in the global economy during the 21st century. This point is illustrated by the story author Thomas L. Friedman tells his children at the dinner table, "My parents told me that I needed to eat my dinner because children were starving in India and China. I'm telling you that you need to do your homework because children in India and China are starving for your job."

Friedman also shares the development of Bangalore, India--a place where it is likely your taxes are done, your X-Rays or lab work read, or your product support call answered, while you thought these tasks were being done just up the street. In the 21st century, "just up the street" may be half way around the world--hence, "the world is flat." Friedman traces a number of important events, such as the falling of the Berlin Wall and the development of work flow software, which served as the precursors of this flattening. In doing so he makes us rethink what dates from the 2Oth century may have the biggest impact on the current century.

The World is Flat is only available in hardback until August of 2006, but Web-savvy ACSA members can see and hear Friedman describe the key concepts of his book in a speech at MIT by visiting: mitworld.mit.edu/video/266/

Thomas L. Friedman. (2005). "The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century." New York. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN # 0374292884