Rating: 
Summary: Sad...but true from cover to cover...
Review: The author of this book is absolutely right on in every respect concerning the state of public school education and the preparation of our teachers and adminstrators. I suspected this for years when i was in college observing practices in the school of education though never a part of it thank God! Then the impressions i got from my children's teachers during parent teacher conferences years later. I thought these people seemed ignorant! But I put it out of my mind as most people do. My degree is in a real field so perhaps I am not qualified in judging "professional educators". After reading it all in this book and others I realized that my suspicions were true! As Mr. Gross states, all schools of education should be abolished at the bachelor, master, and doctoral levels and prospective teachers required to take real degrees in real fields. Upon graduation they should then be required to take a semester in teaching techniques and one semester internship in student teaching though I don't personally think this is essential. The best math teacher i ever had in high school was a retired electrical engineer! He was not certified by the establishment and probably didn't know anything about educational psychology...he was just good!
Rating:
Summary: Everything you've heard about American schools is true
Review: This book is a solid introduction to the topic of American school reform. For those who are familiar with the subject, there is little new here, but the overall presentation of the usual facts and accusations is generally clear and compelling.For the uninitiated, or the unconvinced, you might want to make use of your internet connection and Google.com to follow along with Gross's assertions. The requisite data to back up all his major complaints is readily available, much of it from the federal government. This is not a cheerful book, although it does offer several potentially helpful suggestions for what might be done to improve the deplorable performance of our nation's schools. Although it might be taken as an unmitigated assault on the education establishment, it might also been seen as a recipe for true reform, albeit not a terribly original one. If you're new to the subject, or interested in a well written overview, I highly recommend this book.
Rating: 
Summary: Stone Pillars and not Cotton Stacks!
Review: Yikes! Scary, but true--is Martin L. Gross's latest book, "The Conspiracy of Ignorance." [HarperCollins] In his landmark writing Gross goes into battle with the American public education system with but a keen mind for research and his commitment toward the betterment of what he terms, "the Establishment." And he comes up winning, over, and over, and over again. Gross's arguments sit atop all of the fluffy cotton-stack logic that current educational leaders have placed where stone-pillars of knowledge and scholarship once sat prominent. I was particularly compelled concerning what Mr. Gross had to say concerning the current qualifications of today's teachers and his truths in observation of what he terms, "the General Debased Curriculum." Ouch! Sometimes the truth not only hurts, but it bites, gnaws, chews, and repulses. Still, I felt that such up-turnings of the stomach could be read not only toward prescription for the system's proper cure but too toward what such words might offer toward the corraling and aggregation of the men and women capable of implementing Gross's recommendations. To give proper discussion toward the disruption to "the system" that Gross's book is likely to enflame most certainly could spawn another such treaty. But, to not mention certain elements would be derelict--Gross's words just spark and stoke too many worthy fires. I've always held that generally, only, the least capable of men and women that have passed through the doors of academic award--trudge up to the the hiring doors of public education. I've seen this myself year after year as both a chemistry and mathematics instructor [degreed in both fields] within the target range of Gross's words. Gross shows all of what I thought to be true--to in fact--be true. Gross, in his work, in his study--shows that the men and women that instruct our youth only seldom possess the expertise in their subject matter capable of landing them employment in such fields. Concerning this directive--Gross holds no punches nor is he apologetic for his words. If you wish to know the secrets capable of again making the United States a contender concerning the worldwide concern associated with the proper education of youth--read this book. If you are a parent, a student or an educator--read this book. Or as Abbie Hoffman said, "Steal--This Book!" Anyway you can--GET THIS BOOK! NOW! If you are faint-of-heart and or a milquetoast concerning the betterment of public education, or worse--if you are just an average teacher--take two aspirin. Then read this book in the morning!
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