Departments: Resources

Public Education's Remarkable History

Book chronicles 200 years of schooling in America.

EXCERPT

"One article of faith among the founding fathers was that a republic could survive only if its citizens were educated. School has continued to shape the core of our national identity. 'The free common school system,' Adlai Stevenson once said, is 'the most American thing about America.'"

SCHOOL: The Story of American Public Education
Edited by Sarah Mondale and Sarah B. Patton, Foreword by Meryl Streep
Beacon Press, $30. From www.beacon.org.

On a typical school day this fall, almost a quarter of America's population will be inside a public school building. Even more will be working, in some way, to further education.

There is no doubt that public education is an enormous enterprise, one that is surrounded by a host of issues: how to educate children who don't speak English, how to fairly assess a child's academic potential, how to make education more equitable between the haves and have-nots, and how to find a balance between state and local control.

But according to School: The Story of American Public Education, the issues and questions educators and parents, politicians and voters grapple with today are not new. They have been around for 200 years, when free public schools were first introduced as a "radical, crazy-seeming" idea.

The book—which includes more than 125 black-and-white historic photographs, pictures, and line drawings that date back to colonial times—clearly presents America's struggle to educate all of its citizens over the last two centuries.

If you like an overview of history without a lot of detail, this book is for you. Designed as the companion piece to a four-part PBS documentary series that aired in early September, School is fast-moving, simplified, and vivid: the Cliff's Notes of America's public education history with a modern twist at the end.

The book is broken into four parts plus an introduction, each written by a different education historian.

Part one, by Carl Kaestle, looks at the "Common School" from 1770-1900. Formed in response to the Protestant concept that people needed to be able to read the Bible and interpret it for themselves, early schools were dealing with "multiculturism"—in a sense—even then. The bitter debate between Protestants and immigrant Catholics about the materials and methods presented in school led to the country's first Catholic schools in the mid-1800s.

In part two, Diane Ravitch looks at the role of the public school in "Americanizing immigrants" from 1900-1950. With the passing of child labor laws to get children out of factories and into school, many more students started graduating from high school. This is also the time when college attendance began to soar.

In part three, James Anderson looks at the public school in 1950-1980, with the challenges of Sputnik, and an increasing focus on science education and creating equal opportunities for all students.

And in part four, Larry Cuban examines the public school from 1980 to 2000 with a brief overview of many of the challenges that have been mounting over the years: charter schools, vouchers, home-schooling, corporate interest, and the never-ending push for high academic standards.

Like a good television program, the book is colored with an abundance of quotes from education experts and historians, as well as interesting facts about American schools. What's missing? The serious debate about the very debatable issues in part four, as well as the voices of children, parents, and teachers.

But the pictures, combined with the simplified version of history, make the book an easy weekend read. It puts into perspective what we tend to take for granted today: how middle-class women were lured a century years ago to western frontier towns to become teachers; what it took to abolish school segregation across the country; and how Mexican-American students in Texas inspired the movement for bilingual education.

More than anything, School demonstrates that even with all of its blisters and boils, American public education has made remarkable progress over the years — especially given the demands that Americans have placed on their schools. It explores how Americans have sought to shape their society through public education.

While it lacks in-depth detail, School does not gloss over the array of practical problems schools face. What it does is suggest that we take a closer look at how well education has, and has not, adapted to the remarkable pluralism of the American population.

—Dina S. Gómez

Books by NEA Members

Moonlight and Mill Whistles
By Terry Ward Tucker

The author is really South Carolina teacher Margaret Patterson writing under a pseudonym. Patterson, a teacher for more than 20 years, tells the story of a 13-year- old Tommy and his 17-year- old sister Jewel, both forced to work in a mill after their father dies early on and their mother is bedridden. Their lives change when a gypsy princess named Rona appears. A 52-page teacher's guide is available. $15 from Amazon.com.

Social Studies
Internet Director
By Pam Vaughan

Travel around the globe with a click of the mouse. Explore the amazing world of social studies by completing map projects, viewing flags of all the countries, and going on virtual expeditions from your desktop. Member Pam Vaughan provides a helpful guide to social studies via the Internet. E-mail Vaughan at www.pamcob@ix.netcom.com to request your Internet directory.

Lessons from the Hawk
By Mark Kennedy

Teachers know that students learn in different ways. Kennedy explains how students' learning styles can be matched with the subject matter and how homework can be designed to build on students' talents. Kennedy believes schools serve students best when they allow—and encourage—individuality and diversity. $18.95. Order from Psychology Press/Holistic Education Press, Box 328, Brandon, VT 05733-0328, or call 800/639-4122, or go to www.great-ideas.org.

Character Kaleidoscope: Chinese Mythology
By Irene Dea Collier

Learning Chinese mythology has never been so easy and fun. Learn about mythology's themes, characters, and symbols. Question and answer section follows each chapter. An expert commentary section enhances the myths with opinions by noted scholars. This book by NEA member Irene Dea Collier has lively illustrations that will amaze and capture the imagination of your students. 128 pp. $20.95. Visit www.enslow.com to order, or write: Enslow Publishers, Inc. PO Box 398, 40 Industrial Road, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922-0398.

An Architectural Guidebook to Portland
By Bart King

If you're thinking about a visit to Portland, Oregon, you may want to consult this book. King has written and photographed the eye-catching architectural highlights Portland has to offer. The guide not only has pictures of the monuments, but also the history and the significance of each major building, park, warehouse, and many more landmarks found in the five-mile downtown district. $15.36 from Amazon.com.

An Architectural Guidebook to Portland
By Bart King

If you're thinking about a visit to Portland, Oregon, you may want to consult this new book. King has written and photographed the eye-catching architectural highlights Portland offers. The guide not only has pictures of the monuments, but also the history and the significance of each skyscraper, building, park, warehouse, and many more landmarks found in the five-mile downtown district. $21.95. To order, go to www.gibbs-smith.com or call 800/748-5439.

Teacher and writer Pollard-Johnson brings you a delightful story about the new boy in school who learns the true meaning of friends and how to be a friend, the hard way. To order, contact Perfection Learning Corporation at 515/546-0500.

Word Power: What Every Educator Needs To Know About Teaching Vocabulary
NEA Success in Reading Series
Steven Stahl and Barbara Kapinus
40 pp., $10.50 members, $12.50 nonmembers
#2050-2-00-FN

A good vocabulary is one of the major building blocks for success in reading, and every content area has vocabulary to master. Whether you're teaching third grade math, fifth grade literature, or high school science, Word Power offers K-12 classroom teachers proven techniques for effective vocabulary instruction. You'll find out how to increase the vocabulary and content understanding of your students, involve your students more actively in word learning, and guide your students toward the deep understanding of words that comes from thoughtful learning rather than rote memorization. The authors of Word Power, Steven Stahl and Barbara Kapinus, give teachers the tools they need to turn their students into "wordophiles," by verifying what all readers know—there's always been a vital link between a love of words and a love of reading.

EXCERPT
In order for a student to own a word, the word and its meaning must be readily available for communicating. Far too many students and teachers believe that getting a word or definition correct on a quiz constitutes knowing a word. When a student can use a new word in conversation or writing, he or she truly knows or owns that word. Instruction that goes beyond assigning words and their definitions as preparation for a test carries the message that knowing a word means being able to use or think about it in a variety of ways.

TVTips

P.O.V. — 5 Girls
PBS, October 2, 2001, 9 p.m. ET, check local listings. Web site (right) goes active September 27.
Following the everyday challenges of five real teenage girls growing up in diverse sections of Chicago over a three-year period, this film provides a glimpse into their struggles with poverty, sexual identity, race, parents' expectations, first loves, and overall challenges of growing up female in America. The program aims to break stereotypes that girls are unable to navigate through adolescence for themselves or that they don't desire relationships with their parents and other adults.

Insect Safari: Earth's Ecosystem
CNN, CNN Newsroom, October 1, 4:30 am, ET,
This CNN Newroom presentation teams up with the Smithsonian Institution to create a study of the interdependency of Earth's systems, as explained through insects. The program will cover topics such as plant life, entomology, and weather. Support materials at www.CNNfyi. com will include feature articles, an interactive quiz, video clips, photo gallery, and a link to the Smithsonian O. Orkin Insect Safari (http://insectsafari.com).

Egypt Beyond the Pyramids
The History Channel, October 1-4, 6:00 am, ET,
This two-part four-hour special explores Egyptian art, architecture, politics, culture, death, and immortality. Part One explores the restoration of several temples, examining the important role art and decoration played in their religious power and political prestige. In the second hour, the special turns to the mystery of Ramses the Great's missing children. Part Two looks at the everyday lives of Egyptian farmers, priests, and merchants in its first hour and examines the Egyptians' religious beliefs about heaven and hell in its second.

Electric Money
PBS, October 3, 9:00 p.m. ET,
In this two-hour special, Bob Cringely takes viewers on a tour of the mysterious world of money, commodities, wealth, and debt. Traveling from the financial centers of London to the wireless capital of the world, and from Silicon Valley to Wall Street, the program explores how the digital revolution has transformed every aspect of financial activity. The program explores how information technology has vastly expanded futures, options and stock trading, while offering insight into the invention of the credit card, beginning with the first step in the bills-to-bytes revolution.

The Ultimate Guide: Mastodon
The Discovery Channel, October 7, 9:00 p.m. ET,
This one-hour special follows the events behind the excavation of the near-complete skeleton of an 11,000- year-old mastodon. Scientists and volunteers, headed by Warren Allmon, director of the Paleontological Research Institute, pieced to-gether more than 90 percent of the mastodon's skeleton. The program explores several controversial theories regarding the mastodon's North American extinction.

Incas: Past and Present
CNN, CNN Newsroom, October 8-11, 4:30 am, ET,
This CNN Newsroom presentation examines the life of a teen who is a descendent of the Incas and examines the ways the present-day generation preserves the values and the traditions of their ancestors. Support materials are available at www.CNNfyi.com.

The Ponder Heart
PBS, October 15, 9 p.m. ET.
Based on Eudora Welty's prize-winning novel, this Masterpiece Theater presentation tells the story of Uncle Daniel Ponder, heir to the largest family fortune in Clay County, Mississippi, who has a generous streak unchecked by common sense. Uncle Daniel's family tries to have him committed for his serial kindness and to saddle him down with a respectable bride, then Uncle Daniel winds up indicted for a mysterious murder. A companion Web site can be found at ncteamericancollection.org.

Weather Extreme
Discovery Channel, October 21, 8:00 p.m. ET,
Combining special-effects technologies, dramatic footage from actual storms, and insight from top meteorologists, storm chasers, and disaster planning officials, this two-hour special illustrates the power a Category 4 hurricane or a Force 5 tornado could unleash on a crowded metropolitan area, such as New York City or Dallas. The computer-generated imagery brings to life the natural process from which these catastrophes emerge. The program features interviews with a wide range of experts, from scientists and meteorologists to New York's and Dallas' disaster plan officials, to give viewers a full perspective of the consequences of these devastating meteorological events and to address preparedness plans in cities across the country.

free or inexpensive

Free Lesson Plans
Here is a way to consume time and also provide high-quality education for your students. Teachers nationwide strongly support the United States Mint's initiative to provide free lesson plans for Grades K-6. These free lesson plans feature lesson outlines, objectives, graphic handouts, interactive games, cooperative learning activities, and evaluation exercises. For more information or to order your free lesson plans contact Stephanie Dawson at 202/354-6717.

Experimental Science
If you have budding biologists in your science class, then The Science of Life is the perfect resource for you. This informative text introduces students to the scientific method and has 25 experiments so they can apply what they have learned. The book is meant for students ages nine and up and includes a glossary, bibliography and index that makes it a good resource for students, teachers, and librarians. The book, written by Frank Bottone, Jr. is available for $14.95 from Chicago Review Press. and is Call 800/888-4741 or go to www.ipgbook.com to order.

Student-Written Riddles
Riddle Math is classroom-tested and kid-friendly, in part because all of the math riddles were written by students. The book is recommended for students in grades two through five. The book provides guidelines for teachers on how to get students to write effective math riddles and provides lots of reproducible pages to use in your own classroom. Written by Carl M. Sherrill, the book is $21.95. To order Riddle Math, call 800/852-4890.

Exploring the 20th Century
Covering America's history starting with 1900 and going all the way to 1999 is no easy task to accomplish in one school year. Janet Kragen has made it easier, though, with her book Decade Days. Kragen gives ideas for teachers about possible activities for each decade. She includes projects, journal topics, and other activities for teachers who want to make learning history fun for their students. Recommended for grades seven through twelve, Decade Days focuses on history and social studies. $16.99. Call 800/421-5565.

Appreciating World Music
World Playground 2, a new CD released by Putumayo World Music, is a great way for you and your students to explore music around the world. On this CD, there is music from countries such as Jamaica, Trinidad, India and South Africa. The CD comes with a multicultural activity kit, which includes a passport so students can document which countries they learned about. The CD also has translations of all the songs included. World Playground 2 can be incorporated into any curriculum starting with kindergarten and going up to the sixth grade. To order, call Putumayo World Music at 212/625-1400 or visit www.putumayo.com.

Far Out
The Atlas of Space is a pictorial reference that will teach you and your class how to find stars, name the moons, and learn about Hubble and his invention. You can order this 80-page resource for $12.95 from the Millbrook Press by logging on to www.millbrookpress.com.

Science on the Small Side
Popular Science offers four mini-guides to bugs, dinosaurs, space, and the earth. Learn how oil forms under the crust and how bugs communicate, by consulting these colorful and detailed guides. To order these $7.95 Popular Science Mini Guides, log onto www.sterlinpub.com or call Sterling at 800/367-9292

webwinners

Antebellum Reform
Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony are recognized as two of the most influential and prolific reformers of the 19th century. Now, you can track the first decade of their collaboration via Travels for Reform, an online collection of historical documents presented as live transcripts of the originals and graphic images. An introductory essay, selected biographical dictionary, and explanatory notes are also available on this easily-navigated and thorough site. To learn more about women's reform, antebellum politics, and the alliance of abolitionists and women's rights advocates, visit
http://adh.sc.edu/sa/sa-table.html.

World Weather Education
Want to know if it's sunny in Rio de Janeiro? Raining in London? Or how about the five-day forecast for your hometown? Find the weather and climate of any place in the world with the meteorological Web site of the UK. This searchable page provides weather news and links to climatologists around the globe. Especially interesting is the education section, replete with weather data, historic events, a curriculum center, and resources. Be sure to check out the infrared globe disk, a continuously updated view from 36,000 kilometers above the earth.
www.met-office.gov.uk.

Britannica Education
Britannica Education recently launched BritannicaSchool.com, an easy-to-use online resource aimed at helping students organize assignments and conduct research. BritannicaSchool provides colorful study guides on over 200 topics, along with activities, glossaries, and learning assistance. Templates and tutorials are also accessible to students, as are editor-selected links to age-appropriate and relevant Web sites. Currently focused on grade levels 9-12, BritannicaSchool will include kindergarten and elementary guides by 2001. For a free online tour and registration information, go to www.britannicaschool.com.

Practical Math
If you're looking for ways to relate math to real-world situations, this Web site can help! Math word problems are arranged by level, from grade five through twelve. Each section has a number of problems stated in sentences, encouraging students to relate mathematical concepts to external dilemmas. Hints are offered and answers are available at a click of the mouse button. It's great practice for kids and a handy resource for teachers. Visit
www.stfx.ca/special/mathproblems/welcome.html.

Improving the Practice
Great Online Tools for Schools (GOT School, Inc.) announces a new site for educators to improve their practice, advance their careers, and share resources and ideas. The searchable database provides links to relevant articles and recent news, as well as a discussion forum, a section detailing professional standards, and certification information by state. Visit online at http://teachers.gotschool.com.

Girls' Math
"Boys are better at math" will be a less-heard phrase with the help of Color Math Pink's Website. Designed for elementary and middle school girls, it is designed to encourage and develop basic math skills. Visitors to this site will find homework tips, sample math problems, and helpful links, as well as workshops and other materials for parents and teachers. Visit this site at www.colormathpink.com.

Reading Rockets
There's a new Web site created specifically to help children learn how to read. ReadingRockets.org is the first part of a multimedia project funded by the Department of Education that includes a documentary narrated by actor Morgan Freeman, an educational television series, a bilingual print guide, and a series of teleconferences.

Launched by WETA, the public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, www.readingrockets.org features tips and forums for parents, teachers, tutors, and care givers, a database of the most beloved children's books, along with behind the scenes looks at how children's book authors work, video clips of reading teachers modeling best practices for teaching reading, interviews with reading experts, plus up-to-date articles on reading research and practice.

NEA is a partner in the project, along with more than a dozen other educational organizations.