Keeping Track: How Schools Structure Inequality

Rating:
Summary: This book shows the inequalities in K-12 education
Review: Jeannie Oakes put forth the idea that tracking does not have a silver lining. When students are tracked, some are left behind. De-tracking may not be the answer but this topic (her work) is worth reading. I think that the previous review (the only other one as of 11/00) does not give Jeannie Oakes enough credit for her research on this topic. If you pick up the book and read it I'm sure you'll realize there is much inequality built into our educational system. For this alone...I'd read some of her work.

Rating:
Summary: This book shows the inequalities in K-12 education
Review: My school district has recently changed our middle school from homogeneous grouping of classes to heterogeneous based mainly on the works of Ms. Oakes. The effects have been disastrous to say the least with large numbers of misplaced and failing lower achievement level students. After reading "keeping Track" I came to the conclusion that Ms. Oakes has not spent much (if any) time teaching actual K-12 classes. If you are a teacher in the real world you will probably agree with my assessment. Her conclusion that we should all just merrily follow the model of cooperative learning (she gives no actual successful examples of how this will really improve learning) and it will fix everything , just reinforced my belief that she basically doesn't know what she is talking about. Unfortunately many school districts have become followers of her teachings and have radically changed their structures to heterogeneity. Of course, Ms. Oakes has made money and these school districts have saved a bundle on this philosophy. I recommend reading this book if for no other purpose than to open your eyes to the dangers of listening to the purveyors of ignorance that abound in the field of education.

Rating:
Summary: A book that has done much harm to education
Review: My school district has recently changed our middle school from homogeneous grouping of classes to heterogeneous based mainly on the works of Ms. Oakes. The effects have been disastrous to say the least with large numbers of misplaced and failing lower achievement level students. After reading "keeping Track" I came to the conclusion that Ms. Oakes has not spent much (if any) time teaching actual K-12 classes. If you are a teacher in the real world you will probably agree with my assessment. Her conclusion that we should all just merrily follow the model of cooperative learning (she gives no actual successful examples of how this will really improve learning) and it will fix everything , just reinforced my belief that she basically doesn't know what she is talking about. Unfortunately many school districts have become followers of her teachings and have radically changed their structures to heterogeneity. Of course, Ms. Oakes has made money and these school districts have saved a bundle on this philosophy. I recommend reading this book if for no other purpose than to open your eyes to the dangers of listening to the purveyors of ignorance that abound in the field of education.