Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This work is a usable primer for political and social issues surrounding the contemporary U.S. educational system as well as providing some background history, but is marred by mediocre composition (and editing) and some leftist bias. It also provides a general introduction to the history of minority groups in U.S. education. Should be taken with a grain of salt, but a reasonable starting-off point.
Spring evinces strong opinions regarding centralized testing, and various other subjects. While certainly non-objective in multiple aspects his analysis of various themes--including testing--is nonetheless worthwhile in reminding us of the potential dangers to freedom that can arise in test-centered educational systems. In terms of flaws, Spring often makes references with less-than clear context and makes statements without evidence (e.g. publishing a 10-item list of faults with the No Child Left Behind Act by an anti-NCLB that is exaggerated and with no evidence given). Non-U.S. students may have difficulty understanding various aspects of U.S. educational history without referencing outside sources.
Spring's website can be found on McGraw-Hill here, so can evaluate/sample his writings and thought further:
[...]
Click Here to see more reviews about: American Education
Clear, concise, and authoritative—compact and affordable, too—with scholarship that is often cited as a primary source, American Education brings up-to-date information and challenging perspectives to teacher educators' classrooms. Revised every two years, American Education provides a fresh, concise, and up-to-date introduction to the historical, political, social, and legal foundations of education and to the profession of teaching in the United States. This edition introduces a new chapter reference guide to the No Child Left Behind Act, provides a fresh look at multiculturalism and multilingualism, and presents a new discussion of the link between schooling and the growing gap between rich and poor.
