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The Teacher Wars
The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession | Dana Goldstein
In her groundbreaking history of 175 years of American education, Dana Goldstein finds answers in the past to the controversies that plague our public schools today. Teaching is a wildly contentious profession in America, one attacked and admired in equal measure. In The Teacher Wars, a rich, lively, and unprecedented history of public school teaching, Dana Goldstein reveals that teachers have been similarly embattled for nearly two centuries. From the genteel founding of the common schools movement in the nineteenth century to the violent inner-city teacher strikes of the 1960s and '70s, from the dispatching of Northeastern women to frontier schoolhouses to the founding of Teach for America on the Princeton University campus in 1989, Goldstein shows that the same issues have continued to bedevil us: Who should teach? What should be taught? Who should be held accountable for how our children learn? She uncovers the surprising roots of hot button issues, from teacher tenure to charter schools, and finds that recent popular ideas to improve schoolsinstituting merit pay, evaluating teachers by student test scores, ranking and firing veteran teachers, and recruiting elite graduates to teachare all approaches that have been tried in the past without producing widespread change. And she also discovers an emerging effort that stands a real chance of transforming our schools for the better: drawing on the best practices of the three million public school teachers we already have in order to improve learning throughout our nations classrooms. The Teacher Wars upends the conversation about American education by bringing the lessons of history to bear on the dilemmas we confront today. By asking How did we get here? Dana Goldstein brilliantly illuminates the path forward.
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MEGR
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🍎📚✏️

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Sace
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Pickpick

Why do I read/listen to books about education? They just frustrate me. This was well written and a good listen. Loved the epilogue the most.. The author had some excellent ideas about improving schools. Why won't we listen?

78 likes1 stack add
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Sace
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There's one goal I'm really succeeding at...ignoring my audible stats. I don't think I've looked at them since December.

EvieBee You encouraged me to go check out my stats! I‘m a scholar! 173 more hours to become a Master. 7y
Sace Yay! I was looking at my stats way too much and getting unreasonably angry when my app was not working correctly and saying I had listened for 10 minutes after listening for 45. Not cool. (edited) 7y
93 likes2 comments
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Leelee.reads
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I'm fortunate to work at a truly exceptional public high school, but am still nervous to dive into this. Afraid I'll feel discouraged, insulted, enraged and dismayed at the way the system functions overall and by how our profession is often viewed by others. Those who've read it - any chance I'll come away feeling inspired? 🤓

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Sace
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I can't decide on my next audiobook. 😕

Laura317 Me either. The Teacher Wars looks intriguing. 7y
Sace @Laura317 it's been in my kindle and audible libraries for a while. And it's something I can handle when school is in session. I avoid work related stuff while I'm in vacation. I wonder if I should listen to Subtle Art first...so I don't get too angry at the teacher book. 😂 7y
Laura317 @RestlessFickleBookSlut It might be a good idea! 😂 7y
hermyknee The story of human language looks good, too! 7y
Sace @hermyknee John McWhorter is a highly entertaining listen. 7y
71 likes5 comments
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kristinshafel
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WTAF. Being an academically trained musician (two composition degrees), and married to a composition professor, we talk about measuring "success" in subjective areas such as the arts all the time. This shit makes me crazy. "Draw a picture of how your hands look" for a gym class!? Ok how does that evaluate a gym teacher, for real. None of this has anything to do with kids learning or actually assessing a teacher's effectiveness.

diovival The hell? Boooooo. 8y
11 likes1 stack add1 comment
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kristinshafel
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Here's what I'm going to work on for Dewey's 24-hour #readathon, with particular focus on The Teacher Wars. It starts at 8pm tonight here in Singapore, so most of my participation will begin around hour 11 or 12, I think. I most likely won't hit up the mini-challenges, but I'll try to hop on here and twitter some, with a blog post too. I hope everybody has fun with it this weekend!

15 likes1 stack add
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kristinshafel
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We've been dealing with this shit forever. 😡

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MrBook
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Pickpick

(Re-post) What an eye-opening read! This is a history of education in America, & I learned *a lot* from it, even after taking college educational history courses (go figure). By no means exhaustive, and a bit on the dry side, this title provides excellent grounding for understanding how & why our education system works the way it does today. DG is thankfully balanced in her approach. 4 stars! #PairWith: Lost Vineyards Chardonnay, slightly chilled.

Ellsbeth I've been curious about this book. Thanks for the review! 8y
hollytucker Wow--need to pick this one up. (I'm a teacher.) 8y
LindaGrace812 That De Vos woman ought to read it since she knows nothing about the American public education system but is inexplicably now in charge of said system. 8y
Ksvz Dumbing Us Down by John Taylor Gatto might be of interest to you. It is a very different take on public education. I'm on what seems to be an endless wait list for The Teacher Wars. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
116 likes15 stack adds5 comments
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jesstothefuture
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Pickpick

A captivating book that ties the long and tumultuous history of teaching to challenges facing the profession--really, facing education--today. I learned so much, and have so many things I want to look into further. Now to make notes out of all those flags before I return it to the library!
4.5/5 stars

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jesstothefuture
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I didn't learn about any of these people--or any black education theorists at all--in my teacher-prep program. 🤔😐 Theorists mentioned here: Lisa Delpit & Gloria Ladson Billings. Model teachers: Charlotte Forten & Anna Julia Cooper.

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jesstothefuture
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hwheaties 🙌🏼 8y
7 likes1 comment
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jesstothefuture
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The father's full quote: "I don't know Susan B. Anthony and I suppose I never shall, but she's a woman who is working for a cause, a just cause, and I will not allow my children to listen to any half-baked nincompoop who sneers at her."

So in addition to being a fascinating history of my sometime profession, the writing's amazing! ?

5 likes1 stack add
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BookBabe
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#BookNLunch! @MrBook and I are enjoying a meal and discussion about The Teacher Wars with #ThePoconoBookClub! Book gift swap to follow 😃

jpmcwisemorgan #tatertots! I have friends and family members who are teachers. Many left or retired as soon as they could because they couldn't take it anymore. 8y
Shvonne When my mom retired from the Air Force, she became a teacher. Not sure which career stresses her out more. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😎👍🏻 8y
Brenley Ooh this looks so good! 8y
117 likes7 stack adds4 comments
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MrBook
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#ThePoconoBookClub meeting! What a high-energy discussion!! If your book club reads non-fiction, this would be a great selection to read and discuss. Then again, many of our members are in the teaching profession, lol, but still. This is a great packed house today. Cheesesteak and tater tots and Coke, by the way 😋!

Bambolina_81 This sounds like an interesting read...I'm a teacher in the UK and wonder how the experiences are similar/differ. 8y
samwinchester90 Both my parents were teachers for 20+ years. Definitely adding to my TBR stack. 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😎👍🏻 8y
See All 6 Comments
BookBabe 👍🏻 8y
kspenmoll I will have to read it ! 8y
MrBook @Bambolina_81 Huh, it would definitely provide perspective 😊👍🏻! @samwinchester90 Oh, nice! Some of the teachers lived through some of the events she discusses in the book. They were very happy with this read 😊👍🏻! @BookBabe 😁😍! @kspenmoll 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻! 8y
106 likes6 stack adds6 comments
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MrBook
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Pickpick

What an eye-opening read! This is a history of education in America, and I learned *a lot* from it, even after taking educational history courses in college (go figure). By no means exhaustive, and a bit on the dry side, this title provides excellent grounding for understanding how & why our education system works the way it does today. DG is thankfully balanced in her approach. 4 stars! #PairWith: Lost Vineyards Chardonnay, slightly chilled.

geodynamical_nonfiction @Eggs Check this out 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😊👍🏻 8y
MrBook @geodynamical 😁👍🏻! 8y
121 likes11 stack adds3 comments
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MrBook
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#BookNLunch! Accompaniment this chilly afternoon is my famous nacho plate: tortilla chips, olives, salami, pepperoni, 7 kinds of shredded cheeses, and herbs & spices. With Coke! MMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

KVanRead Yum! I think I have those same dishes! 8y
Jinjer Oh dear me those nachos look so good! Nachos are my favorite food. Would never have thought to put those yummy ingredients on tortilla chips!!!! 8y
MrBook @KVanRead 😁🙌🏻 #KindredSpirits! @Jinjer 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🙌🏻! 8y
See All 10 Comments
LeahBergen 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 8y
WordWaller 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍 that looks simply amazing 8y
Cortg Looks delish! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😎👍🏻 8y
audiothing Olives! Lovely. I don't think I could even name 7 cheeses 🤔 8y
Bostonmomx2 @audiothing lol @ the cheese comment. Me either 😂😂 8y
MrBook @LeahBergen 😊👍🏻! @WordWaller 😁👍🏻!!! @Cortg Thank you 😊👍🏻! @audiothing @Bostonmomx2 😂👏🏻🙌🏻! 8y
112 likes1 stack add10 comments
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MrBook
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#BookNDinner! Accompaniment this evening: steamed clams in butter and garlic; teriyaki wings with ranch (not pictured); and Yuengling on draft. MMMMmmm 😋!!! Happy reads & happy eats! 😎👌🏻

DanaKristine Those clams look incredible! 8y
Reviewsbylola 😍😍 8y
ephemeralwaltz Oh my 😍😍 8y
See All 12 Comments
JSW Nothing better than steamed clams. 👍🏼 8y
britt_brooke Draft Yuengling. 👌🏻👌🏻🍻 We're lucky to get it bottled down here in Tennessee. 8y
MrBook @DanaKristine They were soooo goooood 😁👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻!!! @Reviewsbylola 😎👌🏻! @ephemeralwaltz Another clam lover in the Litsy house 😁👍🏻?! @JSW Oh yeah #KindredSpirits 😎🙌🏻!! @britt_brooke Draft Yuengling is more prominent up this way than any other beer 😂👏🏻. A PA legend. 8y
britt_brooke @MrBook Yes, the first time I ever had it was traveling in NJ and PA. Then it was years before I had it again. 8y
BookBabe 😊😋👍🏻 8y
Zelma And, now I'm hungry. 🙄 #blamelitsy and @MrBook 8y
ephemeralwaltz @MrBook without a doubt! 8y
MrBook @britt_brooke 😳 Years?! The shaame! @BookBabe 😍😍😍! @Zelma 😂👏🏻🙌🏻!! @ephemeralwaltz 😉👍🏻! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😎👍🏻 8y
135 likes12 comments
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MrBook
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BookNBrunch! From a couple hours ago, accompaniment was: cheesey scrambled eggs; crispy bacon; extra crispy TATER TOTS; toasted peasant bread; and blueberry lemonade. MMMMmmm 😋!!! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats 😎👌🏻! #mrbooktotpics

Reviewsbylola Your floral centerpiece is so pretty! 🌺🌸🌼 8y
Cinfhen My current read had the term "peasant bread" ?which of course made me chuckle, but alas no tater tots mentioned ? 8y
LeahBergen 👍🏼👍🏼 8y
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cathysaid How are you liking the book? I'm a freshman comp instructor, so thought about finding this one. 8y
theladygreer Is the Ranch for the tater tots? I used to dip mine in bleu cheese dressing. 8y
MyNamesParadise Tater tots 😱 8y
Buddys_Momma That's making me so hungry! 8y
mcipher What a feast!! 8y
MrBook @Reviewsbylola Thank you 😁👍🏻! @BookBabe put it together 😊. @Cinfhen That's so great 😁👏🏻🙌🏻! Well, 'tis only I who has discovered *the* heavenly pairing 😉👍🏻. @LeahBergen 😊👍🏻!! @cathysaid I'm 80 pages in and loving it. Learning so much! Really puts things in perspective 😁👏🏻! @theladygreer Yep, I loooooove ranch! Similar minds 😊👍🏻🙌🏻! @MyNamesParadise 😂😂😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻! @Buddys_Momma Me two 😁👍🏻! @mcipher It was marvelous 😎! 8y
LitsyGoesPostal 😎👌🏻 8y
113 likes4 stack adds10 comments
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MrBook
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#BookNLunch! Accompaniment this wintry afternoon: grilled provolone and bacon sandwich, Tostitos chips, and sparkling mineral water. MMMMmmm 😋! This has been another presentation of: #MrBookBookBabeKitchen. Happy reads & happy eats 😎👌🏻!

KarenUK 🙌🙌🙌I'm grilled cheese obsessed! 8y
Skyler Great book! 8y
Abailliekaras I'm so glad you're back in the kitchen. 😜 Plus, Important book. We need good teachers (& to pay and respect them)! 33% of a child's fulfilment in life depends on it. (Or that's what they told us in teachers' college 🙄)... 😉 8y
See All 11 Comments
beagle.mama How have I never heard of this book? Thanks! 8y
MemoirsForMe Provolone cheese! 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻 8y
kspenmoll Great meal & book! 8y
Mariposa_Bookworm I love provolone! Mmmmmmm 8y
Ashley31 Very thought-provoking book. Interested in seeing your review. 8y
OrangeMooseReads I'm not a big fan of provolone but anything is good with bacon 8y
Chachic I love Tostitos! 8y
MrBook @KarenUK Awww yeeeaaah 😎👌🏻🙌🏻 #KindredSpirits! @Skyler I am indeed liking it this far 😊👍🏻! @Abailliekaras 😂👏🏻🙌🏻! Exactly 😊! @beagle.mama 😂👏🏻 Because you never asked the right people 😜😉👍🏻! @UwannaPublishme 😎👌🏻🙌🏻!! @kspenmoll Indubitably 😁👍🏻! @Mariposa_Bookworm 😁👏🏻🙌🏻👍🏻!! @Ashley31 It is indeed 😁👍🏻! @OrangeMooseReads 😂👏🏻👍🏻! @Chachic Mmmm, so gooood 😊👍🏻! 8y
152 likes10 stack adds11 comments