American public education and the responsibility of its citizens : supporting democracy in the age of accountability

Not only is the future of our public schools in jeopardy, so is our democracy. Public schools are central to a flourishing democracy, where children learn how to deliberate and solve problems together, build shared identities, and come to value justice and liberty. As citizen support for public schools wanes, our democratic way of life is at risk. While we often hear about the poor performance of students and teachers, the current educational crisis is at heart not about accountability, but rather about citizen responsibility. Yet citizens increasingly do not feel that public schools are __our__ schools, that we have influence over them or responsibility for their outcomes. Citizens have become watchdogs of public institutions largely from the perspective of consumers, without seeing ourselves as citizens who compose the public of public institutions. Accountability becomes more about finding fault with and placing blame on our schools and teachers, rather than about taking responsibility as citizens for shaping our expectations of schools, determining the criteria we use to measure their success, or supporting schools in achieving those goals. This book sheds light on recent shifts in education and citizenship, helping the public to understand not only how schools now work, but also how citizens can take an active role in shaping them. It provides citizens with tools, habits, practices, and knowledge necessary to support schools. It offers a vision of how we can cultivate citizens who will continue to support public schools and thereby keep democracy strong. Public School Systems Are Central To A Flourishing Democracy, Where Children Learn How To Solve Problems Together, Build Shared Identities, And Come To Value Justice And Liberty For All. However, As Citizen Support For Public Schools Steadily Declines, Our Democratic Way Of Life Is Increasingly At Risk. Often, We Hear About The Poor Performances Of Students And Teachers In The Public School System, But As Author Sarah M. Stitzlein Asserts In Her Compelling New Volume, The Current Educational Crisis Is Not About Accountability, But Rather Citizen Responsibility. Now, More Than Ever, Citizens Increasingly Do Not Feel As Though Public Schools Are Our Schools, Forgetting That We Have Influence Over Their Outcomes And Are Responsible For Their Success. In Effect, Accountability Becomes More And More About Finding Failure And Casting Blame On Our School Administrators And Teachers, Rather Than Taking Responsibility As Citizens For Shaping Our Expectations Of The Classroom, Determining The Criteria We Use To Measure Its Success, And Supporting Our Public Schools As They Nurture Our Children For The Future. American Public Education And The Responsibility Of Its Citizens Sheds An Important Light On Recent Shifts In The Link Between Education And Citizenship, Helping Readers To Understand Not Only How Schools Now Work, But Also How Citizens Can Take An Active And Influential Role In Shaping Them. Moving From Philosophical Critique Of These Changes To Practical Suggestions For Action, Stitzlein Provides Readers With The Tools, Habits, Practices, And Knowledge Necessary To Support Public Education. Further, By Sharing Examples Of Citizens And Successful Communities That Are Effectively Working With Their School Systems, Stitzlein Offers A Torch Of Hope To Sustain Citizens Through This Difficult Work In Order To Keep Our Democracy Strong. -- Rather Than Poorly Performing Schools, The Current Educational Crisis Is Really About Citizen Responsibility. Citizens Must Insure That Democratic Practices Are Nurtured. This Is Perhaps Most Achievable In Public Schools. Therefore, Citizens Have A Responsibility To Support Public Schools And This Book Offers Tools And Knowledge To Help Citizens Fulfill It-- Changing Schools, Changing Citizens, Changing Priorities -- Accountability, The Public, And Public Schools -- Defining Public Schools And Understanding Their Shifting Terrain -- Critiquing The Changing Practices Of Public School -- Our Schools, Our Responsibility, Our Democracy -- Fulfilling Citizen Responsibilities -- Legitimacy Of Public Schools -- Citizenship Education And Habits Of Democracy -- Educating Citizens Through And For Democracy And Our Public Schools. Sarah M. Stitzlein. Includes Bibliographical References (pages [209]-218) And Index. "Public school systems are central to a flourishing democracy, where children learn how to solve problems together, build shared identities, and come to value justice and liberty for all. However, as citizen support for public schools steadily declines, our democratic way of life is increasingly at risk. Often, we hear about the poor performances of students and teachers in the public school system, but as author Sarah M. Stitzlein asserts in her compelling new volume, the current educational crisis is not about accountability, but rather citizen responsibility. Now, more than ever, citizens increasingly do not feel as though public schools are our schools, forgetting that we have influence over their outcomes and are responsible for their success. In effect, accountability becomes more and more about finding failure and casting blame on our school administrators and teachers, rather than taking responsibility as citizens for shaping our expectations of the classroom, determining the criteria we use to measure its success, and supporting our public schools as they nurture our children for the future. American Public Education and the Responsibility of its Citizens sheds an important light on recent shifts in the link between education and citizenship, helping readers to understand not only how schools now work, but also how citizens can take an active and influential role in shaping them. Moving from philosophical critique of these changes to practical suggestions for action, Stitzlein provides readers with the tools, habits, practices, and knowledge necessary to support public education. Further, by sharing examples of citizens and successful communities that are effectively working with their school systems, Stitzlein offers a torch of hope to sustain citizens through this difficult work in order to keep our democracy strong"-- Oxford Scholarship Online Content: Cover American Public Education and the Responsibility of Its Citizens Copyright Contents 1. Changing Schools, Changing Citizens, Changing Priorities 2. Accountability, the Public, and Public Schools 3. Defining Public Schools and Understanding Their Shifting Terrain 4. Critiquing the Changing Practices of Public Schooling 5. Our Schools, Our Responsibility, Our Democracy 6. Fulfilling Citizen Responsibilities 7. Legitimacy of Public Schools 8. Citizenship Education and Habits of Democracy 9. Educating Citizens Through and For Democracy and Our Public Schools Acknowledgments Rather than poorly performing schools, the current educational crisis is really about citizen responsibility. Citizens must insure that democratic processes are nurtured. This is perhaps most achievable in public schools. Therefore, citizens have a responsibility to support public schools and this book offers tools and knowledge to help citizens fulfill it Rather than poorly performing schools, the current educational crisis is really about citizen responsibility. Citizens must insure that democratic processes are nurtured. This is perhaps most achievable in public schools. Therefore, citizens have a responsibility to support public schools and this text offers tools and knowledge to help citizens fulfill it