Rating: 
Summary: An incomplete dialogue...
Review: The Thernstroms are correct when they assert that the racial gap in learning is our biggest problem in education today. But their examination of the causes and solutions is incomplete and slanted. I admire them for tackling these tough issues, but their expansive dialogue needs to be met with equal plausibility from alternative views.
To start, I recommend "Young, Gifted, and Black" by Teresa Perry, Claude Steele, and Asa Hilliard. The Thernstroms state that low performance of African-Americans is the fault of "the special role of television in the life of black children and the low expectations of their parents." Perry argues that the African-American community has a long history (back through slavery) of valuing education and having high expectations for their children.
The Thernstroms are correct that parents of any race should not accept excuses for school failure. Asa Hilliard is right that our educational system consistently produces systemic impediments to achievement by students of color.
When this dialogue comes together, a few things stand out: Our schools must do a better job of educating students of color. Families and communities of color must come together to increase the achievement of their children. Schools, communities, and families must take collective responsibility.
However, blaming the victim and suggesting small-scale solutions (like charter schools) are inappropriate and inadequate. Engaging in a meaningful dialogue about these issues and possible solutions is critically important.
Rating: 
Summary: Brilliant, important, and true
Review: The Thernstroms have done it again. They have tackled what is certainly one of the crucial issues of our time, and in the spirit of Hamlet, held the mirror up to nature. We may not like what we see, but education is what it is--a mess. I loved the fact that this is a scholarly work that is incredibly easy to read. The authors are wise to give examples of outstanding teaching, proving that education can work--hopefully, teachers and parents will be inspired by the success stories, and outraged by the conspiracy of mediocrity which is failing our children. This should be required reading for all PTA's, and for everyone involved in public school education. This book will provoke much needed discussion as to how we can improve opportunities for all students.
Rating:
Summary: A Superb Investigation of the Big Issues in Education Today
Review: The Thernstroms have pulled together an amazing amount of data to explain why there is a large gap in achievement among different groups of students. Some of it has to do with the student's home background, with the attitudes of parents and family towards learning, which inevitably affect the student's own attitudes towards schooling and learning. "No Excuses" shows how schools can substantially reduce, even close, the achievement gap that disfavors minorities by establishing a disciplined environment, a solid curriculum, a no-nonsense approach to learning, and the kind of support that students need to take their schooling seriously and to work hard to achieve their goals. Their book contains many excellent examples of schools that have succeeded in raising the aspirations and achievement of all their students. It is a hopeful book. It says that we can do better and it shows the way to do it.
The book is very well-written, even enjoyable to read, unlike so many books about education. It is an important book and I recommend it highly to all who want to see greater justice and opportunity in education.
Rating: 
Summary: Obsession with EQUITY gets us nowhere!
Review: This book incorrectly glorifies the "No Child Left Behind" act and denounces the academic excellence perpetuated by many so-called "progressive" schools across the country. Because of "No Child Left Behind" schools are forced to display their educational achievement via standardized testing as never before. The problem with such is that IT'S STANDARDIZED! And, no child fits the "standard mold." Testing should be individualized and not used to compare one school to another. As a parent, I want to see my child's individual progress, not as he or she compares to a school 300 miles away. Schools today have become OBSESSED WITH EQUITY and forced to deal with an issue that is all-together natural. Thernstrom is right that the "achievement gap" is due to the communities in which different races live, however, he's wrong in relating that standardized testing and an increased orientation to standards-based education will overcome this point of contention. In short, education is not the GREAT EQUALIZER for American society. Schools and the teachers that make them great are only a minute part of a child's life. If a child lives in poverty, no matter what the color of the skin, that child will have a more difficult time adjusting to school both academically and socially. Hence, as long as society is unequal.... so will education. Special initiatives need to be designed to help individual students achieve, and this can ONLY be done on a case-by-case basis. Books like Thernstrom's set back the educational community possibly 5-10 years from going in the right direction. As a teacher, I see this book as damaging to public education. Read the various works of Alphie Kohn instead.
Rating:
Summary: Holier-than-thou white republicans are at it again
Review: This book is a compendium of neo-racism. In this new version of the old racism, black people are still inferior to white people (and also Asians!) because they are stupid, lazy and lousy parents. It it their "culture" that is to blame for their plight, nothing else. Good schools with good teachers in nice suburbs would have no effect at all.In this book, we are told that African American youths watch lots of TV. Gee, I guess there are NO white kids who watch lots of TV! Asian kids must not even OWN televisions! What about white kids who live in lousy neighborhoods with lousy schools? What about white kids whose parents are OK with Cs? Do they do well in school? Oh, we won't talk about that. Let's just focus on African American kids and Latino kids. I watched the authors presentation of this book on CSPAN2. It was hosted by the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative "think"-tank. It was hilarious! There were about 30 to 40 people in attendance, and I saw exactly 1 African American in that group. I guess these pesky African American just aren't getting the message! Here is the bottom line attitiude to neo-racism.. Don't you worry about a thing, you poor African American student. We conservative republican white people know what's best for you!! You'll probably have to get away from your lousy parents and your lousy culture, of course, but that's a small price price to pay for acedemic excellence. What really galled me was the "host" of the CSPAN2 show claimed that this was "in the spirit" of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. How treacherous and what and incredible lie. Dr, King would recognize this for what it is: neo-racism, pure and simple.
Rating:
Summary: Black and Latino Parents Should Read This Book
Review: This Christmas many family members and friends of this African-American will be receiving a copy of NO EXCUSES, an honest and necessary book. The authors write that the academic learning gap between the races is "the most important civil rights issue of our time." Amen. Across all age groups, urban and suburban, North and South, affluent and poor, Black and Latino boys and girls are lagging behind whites and far behind Asians. Why is this? The Thernstroms examined the available research literature and data on the impact of family income, parental education levels, school funding, school segregation levels, television viewing (note: Asian teens watch more TV than Whites teens), among others, and found that none of these influences could explain the learning Gap. For instance, poor whites and Asians scored higher than poor blacks and Latinos. Affluent African-American kids performed worse than the rich white kids sitting next to them. The racial makeup of the teacher had no bearing: black children taught by black teachers faired no better than those taught by white teachers. The authors go on to dispel many of the conventional reasons given for inferior academic achievement. Again, why the learning Gap? After reading the book and considering all sides, I must consider two possible reasons. First, the ongoing learning Gap exist because Asians and whites are naturally more intelligent than African-Americans and Latinos. I categorically (as do the authors) reject this notion. It's the argument of conservative and liberal racists and the excuse makers. The second reason for the learning Gap is that Afican-American and Latino parents generally do not establish high enough academic expectations and standards for their children. As a black parent, this is a painful and too-frequent observation I've made, and one that the book's data confirm. Asian children, whose learning Gap over whites is larger than the white-black/Latino gap, the authors point out, are simply expected to work harder and are held accountable by their parents. They don't think they're smarter. They do believe in the time-honored path to success: hard work. Very high standards and high accountability. The Gap is a cultural thing! It must be or the racists and excuse makers are right. Now, how do we close the learning gap? The Thernstroms offer some good advice to change some of the "systems": less bureaucracy, better teachers, school choice, consistent standards, etc. And they discuss in detail the characteristics of a few highly successful schools in disadvantaged neighborhoods. But I'm stuck on how do we make wholesale cultural (African-American and Latino) changes needed to close the Gap? Reading this book and being honest is a start. For more on African-American culture and academic achievement read, Losing the Race by John McWhorter.
|
