books on education organizing and reform

[Discussion list for COMM-ORG]

[ed:  those of you working on education organizing may find this of use.]

From: "PICO National Network" <gwhitman at piconetwork.org>


Our good friend and teacher Charles Payne has not one but two
new books out on education reform.

So Much Reform, So Little Change: The Persistence of Failure in
Urban Schools (http://ga3.org/ct/I1_svVd164bT/) explores the
persistence of failure in today's urban schools. Payne's central
premise is that most education policy discussions are
disconnected from the daily realities of urban schools,
especially those in low-income neighborhoods. While Payne gives
a thorough accounting of the failure of today's schools, he also
describes how, in the last decade, we have developed real
insights into the roots of school failure, and looks at how some
individual schools, and whole districts, have managed to
improve.

Teach Freedom: Education for Liberation in the African-American
Tradition, co-edited with Carol Strickland
(http://ga3.org/ct/Id_svVd164bH/) features articles by
educator-activists exploring the history of attempts by African
Americans to use education as a tool of collective liberation.
Contributors discuss Citizenship Schools in the south, Ella
Baker and the Harlem Y, Mississippi Freedom Schools, and Black
Panther Liberation Schools. Contemporary models are covered as
well, including efforts such as the Freedom Schools established
by the Children's Defense Fund.

Dr. Payne's writing has had a great influence on how many of us
in the world of education reform think about making public
education work for all students. We encourage you to look at
these books.

Sincerely,

Gordon Whitman
Director of Public Policy and Communications