Educational Policy
Going Public: Schooling for a Diverse Democracy, by Judith RÀenyi (The New Press, 450 W. 41st St., New York, N.Y. 10036; 291 pp., $25 cloth). A reformer examines the nation’s education system in a historical context and suggests ways it might be improved.
Values and Public Policy, edited by Henry J. Aaron, Thomas E. Mann, and Timothy Taylor (The Brookings Institution, 1775 Massachusetts Ave., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20036; 216 pp., $29.95 cloth or $11.95 paper). Leading authorities in the social sciences discuss how trends in American values and social norms affect the design and implementation of public policy.
Taking Control: Vitalizing Education, by Myles I. Friedman (Greenwood Publishing Group Inc., P.O. Box 5007, Westport, Conn. 06881; 216 pp., $55 cloth). Instead of restructuring the system, the author advocates that we invigorate classroom instruction.
Educational Innovation: An Agenda to Frame the Future, edited by Charles Greenawalt 2nd (University Press of American Inc., 4720 Boston Way, Lanham, Md. 20706; 260 pp., $29.50 paper). Using Pennsylvania as a case study, the contributors try to place the state and local debates surrounding reform in a national context.
School Choice: The Struggle for the Soul of American Education, by Peter W. Cookson Jr. (Yale University Press, 92A Yale Station, New Haven, Conn. 06520; 174 pp., $20 cloth). The author provides an overview of school choice--from its origins to the effectiveness of different programs.
Curriculum
Toward Gender Equity in the Classroom: Everyday Teachers’ Beliefs and Practices, by Janice Streitmatter (State University of New York Press, State University Plaza, Albany, N.Y. 12246; 207 pp., $16.95 paper). Through interviews and observations, the author examines how eight teachers’ commitment to gender equity is translated to the classroom.
Practical Portfolios: Reading, Writing, Math, and Life Skills, Grades 3-6, by Susan B. Mundell and Karen DeLario (Teacher Ideas Press, P.O. Box 6633, Englewood, Colo. 80155-6633; 190 pp., $22 paper). This manual presents mini-lessons and practical guidelines for elementary school teachers interested in launching a portfolio-assessment program.
Teaching Social Studies in Grades K-8, by Thomas R. Ruff (Allyn and Bacon, 160 Gould St., Needham Heights, Mass. 02194-2310; 232 pp., $36.95 paper). The author outlines resources and suggests classroom activities to enrich the social-studies curriculum.
Picturing Learning, by Karen Ernst (Heinemann, 361 Hanover St., Portsmouth, N.H. 03801-3912; 174 pp., $19 paper). A middle school English teacher, reassigned to teach elementary school art, creates a workshop in which art, reading, and writing are integrated for collaborative student learning.
Children’s Play in Diverse Cultures, ed. by Jaipual L. Roopnarine, James E. Johnson, and Frank H. Hooper (State University of New York Press, State University Press, Albany, N.Y, 12246; 234 pp., $18.95 paper). A collection of essays by early-childhood educators that explores the various cultural contexts of children’s play and the ways in which variations in behavior are tied to cultural differences.
