Democratic schools: lessons in powerful education

Table of Contents:

1. The case for democratic schools /​ James A. Beane and Michael W. Apple
2. La Escuela Fratney : a journey toward democracy /​ Bob Peterson
3. "Feelin' what they feelin'" : democracy and curriculum in Cabrini Green /​ Brian D. Schultz
4. The situation made us special /​ Barbara L. Brodhagen
5. Beyond the shop : reinventing vocational education /​ Larry Rosenstock and Adria Steinberg
6. Central Park East Secondary School : the hard part is making it happen /​ Deborah Meier and Paul Schwarz
7. Lessons from democratic schools /​ Michael W. Apple and James A. Beane.

Every once in a while, with the passage of time, a classic book takes on even greater relevance. The first edition of Democratic Schools was praised by legions of education professionals for showing how to create schools and classrooms with democratic values in mind; it was hailed for its clear-eyed assessment of the important role schools continue to play in promoting democracy, its traditions, and its thinking. Now an expanded and updated edition of Democratic Schools arrives, increasingly relevant in a time of inequitable accountability-based reform, standardized assessments, and cookie-cutter curricula. Michael Apple and James Beane return to challenge reform movements such as No Child Left Behind by asserting that our schools have a vital and historic connection to the continued success of our democratic way of life.

Democratic Schools, Second Edition, shows in detail how educators can make a lasting difference by combining authentic, important lessons and a consistent, building- or system-wide focus on a critical and democratic education. Apple and Beane once more convene seven of America’s most creative democratic educators for a powerful conversation about how to build an education that is worthy of our highest ideals.

Grounded in a robust understanding of democracy, education, and the exigencies of our political and social systems, the second edition of Democratic Schools goes beyond updating and expanding the stories of the schools it originally chronicled. It adds new material—including a brand new chapter from Apple and Beane—that provides crucial lessons for creating and sustaining democratic schools, and that once again inspires teachers, administrators, and educational leaders to adopt ways of framing their mission that can create and sustain our democratic way of life—even in these difficult times.

(http://www.heinemann.com/products/E01075.aspx)