Overview

Full Product Details

9780226619460

Table of Contents

Reviews

The authors of this book introduce something wholly novel into the highly polarized debates about school choice: nonpartisan nuance. They examine both the long history of school choice in the US, which has been there from day one, and the complex philosophical tradeoffs that are required to negotiate what constitutes good educational policy. In the process, they show that since schooling is a unique kind of good--at the same time public, private, and positional--policies that regulate choice need to balance a complex array of potential costs and benefits. --David F. Labaree, author of A Perfect Mess: The Unlikely Ascendancy of Higher Education Ben-Porath and Johanek provide the most complete and revealing accounting yet of the school choice question in American education. Combining history with thoughtful philosophical analysis, it lays to rest the posturing and sloganeering that have characterized the issue for decades. It is a must read for anyone considering this significant policy matter today, and larger questions of achievement, equity, and democracy facing the education systems of tomorrow. --John L. Rury, University of Kansas This concise and compelling book helps us look anew at our current debates about school choice. It shows that the real debate is not whether we have 'choice'--both parental choice and market-driven choice have long been part of American education--but how policies dictate who gets to choose, how, and with what consequences. Debates about school choice are debates about control, accountability, and the very goals and nature of education as an individual and collective good. A wide range of audiences, from experts to those seeking an introduction on the topic, will find this book useful and insightful. --Tracy Steffes, Brown University This highly readable and instructive volume coolly clarifies otherwise heated arguments about the public and private good in American education. --Kate Rousmaniere, Miami University, Ohio

The authors of this book introduce something wholly novel into the highly polarized debates about school choice: nonpartisan nuance. They examine both the long history of school choice in the US, which has been there from day one, and the complex philosophical tradeoffs that are required to negotiate what constitutes good educational policy. In the process, they show that since schooling is a unique kind of good--at the same time public, private, and positional--policies that regulate choice need to balance a complex array of potential costs and benefits. --David F. Labaree, author of A Perfect Mess: The Unlikely Ascendancy of Higher Education

The authors of this book introduce something wholly novel into the highly polarized debates about school choice: nonpartisan nuance. They examine both the long history of school choice in the US, which has been there from day one, and the complex philosophical tradeoffs that are required to negotiate what constitutes good educational policy. In the process, they show that since schooling is a unique kind of good--at the same time public, private, and positional--policies that regulate choice need to balance a complex array of potential costs and benefits. --David F. Labaree, author of A Perfect Mess: The Unlikely Ascendancy of Higher Education Ben-Porath and Johanek provide the most complete and revealing accounting yet of the school choice question in American education. Combining history with thoughtful philosophical analysis, it lays to rest the posturing and sloganeering that have characterized the issue for decades. It is a must read for anyone considering this significant policy matter today, and larger questions of achievement, equity, and democracy facing the education systems of tomorrow. --John L. Rury, University of Kansas This highly readable and instructive volume coolly clarifies otherwise heated arguments about the public and private good in American education. --Kate Rousmaniere, Miami University, Ohio This concise and compelling book helps us look anew at our current debates about school choice. It shows that the real debate is not whether we have 'choice'--both parental choice and market-driven choice have long been part of American education--but how policies dictate who gets to choose, how, and with what consequences. Debates about school choice are debates about control, accountability, and the very goals and nature of education as an individual and collective good. A wide range of audiences, from experts to those seeking an introduction on the topic, will find this book useful and insightful. --Tracy Steffes, Brown University

Author Information

Sigal R. Ben-Porath is professor of education, philosophy, and political science at the University of Pennsylvania. Her most recent book is Free Speech on Campus. Michael C. Johanek is senior fellow at the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania, as well as Profesor Invitado Internacional at the Pontificia Universidad Cat lica de Chile. His most recent book is Repositioning Educational Leadership, a coedited volume.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available