The End of Education: Redefining the Value of School.

Postman's title, The End of Education, can be construed two very different ways. In Part I he uses "end" in the sense of dead end. In Part II he uses "end" in the sense of purposeful outcome or intention.

Postman lists a number of false gods that have led education to dead ends: the god of economic utility (the belief that if you do well in school, you will be rewarded with a well-paying job), the god of consumership (typified by the credo that "whoever dies with the most toys, wins"), the god of technology (the cult of information) and the god of multiculturalism (when cultural diversity becomes an exclusive preoccupation of education).

Postman proposes replacing these false gods with new perspectives that he believes are more worthwhile for educators to pursue. These include the ideas that human beings are stewards of the earth, that all knowledge is imperfect, that the virtue of the American experiment is its ability to teach the value of argument, that teachers should encourage children to value everyone rather than promote revenge for past racial wrongs, and that language structures reality differently for different peoples.

As is true of Postman's earlier works, The End of Education is likely to upset some readers. Those who do not pay careful attention to the author's championship of valuing diversity in its various forms, for example, are likely to be angered by his discussion of multiculturalism; technology advocates, likewise, will be antagonized by Postman's recital of its limitations.

On the other hand, those who take time to read the book carefully will find it contains some engaging and provocative ideas worth further consideration. He proposes that we teach children to love their country without becoming nationalists and that differences between peoples are inevitable, and worthy of respect.

A short review cannot do justice to Postman's array of ideas. I encourage readers to explore Postman's perspective for themselves. Reviewed by Joanne Hendrick, Professor Emerita, Early Childhood Education, University of Oklahoma, Norman