Inthisfascinatingcollection,someoftheforemosthistoriansofeducation--includingBarbaraBeatty,LarryCuban,LindaEisenmann,YoonK.Pak,JohnL.Rury,andJonathanZimmerman--debunkcommonlyheldmythsaboutAmericanschooling.Eachshort,readablechapterfocusesononemyth,explainingwhattherealhistoryisandhowithelpedshapeeducationtoday.Contributorstakeonahostoftalltales,includingthesupposedagrarianoriginsofsummervacation;exaggeratedstoriesofdecliningstudentbehaviorandacademicperformance;persistentclaimsthatsomepeopleareborntobeteachers;idealisticnotionsthatthe1954BrowndecisionendedsegregationinAmericanschools;misleadingbeliefsthatclassroomsoperateinwaysdesignedtofittheindustrialera;andmore.23MythsAbouttheHistoryofAmericanSchoolswillawakentheinnerhistorynerdofeveryonewhoeverasked,“Howdidwegetthisirrationalschoolsystem?“Itwillaffirmthetruththatitsreadersareasentitledtothinkcriticallyaboutschoolingasanyoneelse.BookFeatures:ExamineshowthehistoryofAmericaneducationhasbeendistortedandmisrepresented,eitherintentionallyorunintentionally.Providesimportantstoriesthatcanhelpguidediscussionaboutthefutureofeducation.Anticipateswhatlocalandstatepoliticiansarelikelytosay(andmisstate)aboutschooling.Providesengagingchaptersthathighlightwhyrealhistoryisimportantandmorefascinatingthanthemyths.Accessibletoawiderangeofreadersfromundergraduatestocareereducators.
