Anti-Corporatization

The Becoming Radical  is a blog of the “pubic and scholarly” writing of Furman University Professor P.L. Thomas who writes about a variety of subjects having to do with school reform, including reading and English issues. He is well-known in the education community and has also written many fine books. The blog is described as “A Place for a Pedagogy of kindness.”

Big Education Ape is a great blog filled with up-to-date and also archival information. Ordinarily I’d fine this blog a bit frenetic with pop out pictures etc., but it is oddly contrarily engaging. More importantly, it is full of the day’s trials and tribulations relating to public schools and students. An added perk is that it is organized by topic.

A Blog About School: A Parent’s Thoughts about School, in Iowa City and Beyond is focused on local public schools. This blog reminds us that public schools belong to the local community. Every town should have bloggers like Chris Liebig who raise tough questions about what is happening in the school district.

Blue Jersey “All the News that Slips from Print” often has articles about education, and Jersey Jazzman is one of the staff writers. They also include a 2011 “A Special 6-Part Series from Blue Jersey,” entitled “Ed Reform 101.”

Bob Braun’s Ledger is about “Education, taxes, housing immigration, politics and other issues that affect the people of New Jersey.” For 50 years Braun wrote for the Star-Ledger. And for 30 years he was their education editor. Like other regional and city writers, the information is relevant to education no matter where you live.

BPS Education Odyssey is “One parent’s journey through the Boston public school system: good, bad and interesting experiences, thoughts along with important issues which all parents should be aware of.” I find this blog to be heartfelt and provides  valuable information especially if you are living in Boston.

Bright Light Small City: Independent Education News and Analysis from Minneapolis is a blog by Sarah Lahm. Sarah writes vividly about high-stakes testing and a variety of issues concerning Minneapolis and schools across the country.

The Broad Report is by the same creator of the  The Perimeter Primate and Charter School Scandals, Sharon Higgins, and makes observations about Eli Broad’s involvement in public schools. Special interest items and a parent guide are presented. Great archive.

BustED Pencils: Fully Leaded Education Talk is what you get from Timothy D. Slekar, PhD and Jed Hoplins, PhD, two educators who write candidly about current education issues.

Catalyst Chicago I don’t always like what I read, but I think they tell it like it is. Started in 1990.

The Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) has a section of education articles that are usually overlooked in the mainstream media. While reporting is heavy on California issues, there are valuable insights and parallels for everyone and additional articles that cover the rest of the world. Along with the issues about public schools, other social justice articles cover Business and Technology, Crime and Justice, Environment, Global Conflict, Health and Welfare, Money and Politics, and National Security.

@TheChalkFace is an overview of public education policy and urgently advocates democratic public schools. This website is now a collection of other important blogs which demonstrate how current reform efforts are aimed at dismantling our public education system. Blog contributors include educators P.L. Thomas, Stephen Krashen, Robert D. Skeels, Kris Nielson and more.

Cloaking Inequity by Julian Vasquez Heilig is an interesting and timely blog questioning current school reform and it includes many guest posts.

Conversation ED is a great blog with a lot of juicy content. I always learn something new here. Kathleen Jasper is the founder. She has represented educators and parents tired of current hazardous education reforms, including Common Core State Standards. And she courageously spoke out about the Common Core on the Glenn Beck Show. Kathleen not only writes interesting blogs herself, she is very kind to also share other blogger’s content in order to get the word out.

Creative by Nature: Glimpses of a Creative Universe is a blog by Christopher Chase who leads an interesting life teaching in Japan! Chris has an excellent education background and writes about interesting topics involving school reform and beyond. His posts are always philosophically thought provoking and he starts long and interesting discussions about school-related issues on Facebook too!

The Crucial Voice of the People is a blog written by Victoria M. Young DVM, who has authored several books about education and many articles about public schools from a parent’s perspective. Vicki also helped start the original Save Our Schools organization and we should be thankful to her for that alone.

Curmudgucation is by Peter Greene who describes himself as “The slightly-cranky voice navigating the world of educational ‘reform’ while trying to still pursue the mission of providing quality education.” His posts are serious but often mixed with droll humor that helps one not spiral out of control with depression when reading too many blogs about the today’s state of education.

Daniel Katz, Ph.D. writes compeling posts about the harm surrounding today’s education reforms. He encourages conversation about the “current state of Americans public education and how to preserve its promise of opportunity for all children.”

DCG Educator: Doing the Right Thing is by David Greene a longtime teacher who blogs on many issues surrounding public schools. He often writes about the struggle of urban schools and New York City, but his blog is relevant to schools around the country. He is also the author of Doing the Right Thing: A Teacher Speaks.

DEFEND-ED: Unashamedly Pro-Family and Pro Teacher. There are many informative posts about education, and areas that are related to education, that affect children and family. This is a website I just learned about and it is intriguing.

deutsch29: Mercedes Schneider’s EduBlog is always engaging. Mercedes is a tried and true teacher. She digs into research many of us can’t find! She does your venting for you with pointed writing that rings clear. You can often find her around the web on other blogs like the Huffington Post. She has two good books published about education. I recently read about her background and it is as fascinating as her blog.

Diane Ravitch’s Blog complements the educational historian and education policy analyst who is considered one of the today’s leading authorities on education reform. Her posts are timely and well-received. She also responds to the questions and concerns of teachers and parents. Her books are always important and well-researched. I always learn something new whenever I read her writings or hear her speeches. She travels to various cities to speak on educational issues so catch her when you can.

Document Philly School Budget Cuts is a site that other cities and communities should replicate if they haven’t already. Philadelphia has a crisis with the lost of a lot of their public schools, but filing complaints is good documentation. On this site parents are told about their legal rights, how to file a complaint, and they are given associations with other activists from their area to oppose harmful school reform.

The Education Activist: From Student to Teacher is the ongoing blog by student and activist Mel Katz who is studying education in New Jersey. It is critical to understand how young people feel about the teaching profession. It is important to learn the perspective of future teachers who are committed to teaching as a career. Mel is bright beyond her years when it comes to education and the loss of public schools.

Education Alchemy is “a blog dedicated to democracy, public education, and the power of the imagination to fight corporate greed–if the truth sounds crazy it is because we have become too accustomed to falsehoods.

Education Lessons From A Sparkly District is by Julie B. from New Jersey. She is a special education advocate. She writes many blog posts surrounding current issues having to do with special education and I always learn something new from her.

Education Opportunity Network has a nice rundown of blog posts about current news items.

Education Radio once presented “interviews, testimony and analysis on issues facing public education in the U.S. through voices of teachers, parents, students, community members, education activists and education scholars.” Education Radio is no longer in service. But the program was “committed to exposing the profit driven interests fueling current education policies while addressing issues of true equity and access in public education.” The past programs are still informative. Maybe they will return?

EduShyster.Com states she is “Keeping an eye on the corporate education agenda.” This blog is about all the difficulties facing public education and the writing is sharp and uplifting. Advocate Jennifer Berkshire spent six years editing a newspaper for the American Federation of Teachers in Massachusetts and now runs her own communications consulting business. She started EduShyster in 2012 and this blog is timely and well-received.

The Edvocate Blog~Standing up for Public Education covers Florida education and especially the testing crisis there. We need to all watch what happens in Florida. These posts are well-done. Kathleen Oropeza is a parent and tireless writer and advocate on behalf of children. She also is coordinator of Fund Education Now. Help them out. They are working to keep you informed as to the changes taking place in that state that have the potential to affect all of us.

Fairness & Accuracy in Reporting (FAIR) is a national media watchdog group that has exposed and criticized media bias since 1986. They work to “invigorate” First Amendment reporting to include minority and dissenting viewpoints not covered by media conglomerates. FAIR provides a list of archieved articles about public schools. FAIR publishes Extra! And produces Counterspin, a weekly radio program.

50th No More is originated in Florida and is a nonpartisan group that addresses concerns having to do with public school budget cuts. The organization recognizes the harm legislation can do to schools. Activism on the part of 50th No More helped stop the parent trigger bill in Florida and the group provides an example for the rest of the country.

Fred Klonsky‘s blog is about Chicago but pertinent to the rest of the country. The writing is up-to-date and the visuals are engaging.

GADFLYONTHEWALLBLOG is educator, husband, father, teacher and education advocate Steven Singer’s popular blog which fights bad school reforms. His posts are timely and unique. His writing always makes me think.

Gary Rubenstein’s Blog is about education and more specifically Tennessee. Gary is a good authority on the problems with Teach for America. A math teacher, he has several books out which I have listed. He also has a children’s book–The Girl Who Never Made Mistakes. My only complaint is he doesn’t blog more often!

Gerald Bracey wrote about the attempts to privatize public schools a long time ago. Check out information about what he foresaw.

Geaux Teacher! is the blog of Lee Barrios a retired middle school teacher from Louisiana. She is currently running for school board and deeply committed to children and their public schools. Lee is an outspoken critic of harmful school reforms.

Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) is a Chicago group trying to save public schools from being closed and much more. The Grassroots Education Movement (GEM) is committed to democratic principles in the governance, pedagogy, and culture of our public schools, and they believe that every child has a constitutional civil and human right to a high quality, equitably funded, public education based on the following:

1.    participatory democratic principles,
2.    community empowerment,
3.    a challenging comprehensive and enriched curriculum,
4.    respect for cultural diversity, and
5.    Universal Human Rights.

The GEM wants students prepared to understand the roots of inequality and to act to change the world.

Hoosier School Heist Blog is by Doug Martin who also wrote the book Hoosier School Heist: How Corporations and Theocrats Stole Democracy From Public Education. Doug is a true activist fighting for public schools in Indiana and beyond! His blog and book both require serious study. He weaves in and out of the connections between individuals and companies and their harmful influence on public schools and you will be stunned! You will come away from both his book and blog a better informed parent and/or educator, ready to stand up for children and their public schools.

Jan Resseger breaks down the education news and describes it in an easy format to understand. She raises serious questions, and I learn something new here.

Jersey Jazzman is all about New Jersey, but the content is very relevant to the rest of the country too. He is popular, does serious research (and makes sense of it for you), and he writes with a great deal of wit.

José Luis Vilson is a math educator in New York, and is also a committed writer, activist, web designer, and father. He is the author of This is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and the Future of Education. He writes compassionately about children and public schools.

Journey for Justice Alliance (J4J) “is an alliance of grassroots community, youth, and parent-led organizations in 21 cities across the country: Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Eupora, MS, Hartford, Los Angeles, Newark, Patterson, Camden, Jersey City and Elizabeth NJ, Minneapolis, New Orleans, New York City, Oakland, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Washington D.C., and Wichita.”

Larry Ferlazzo’s Websites of the Day…For Teaching ELL, ESL, & EFL might be considered especially important to the ELL, ESL, & EFL  crowd, but I post it here under Anti-Corporation as well. Ferlazzo chooses the most engaging sites from the education news for the day. It is an interesting blog filled with current event stories for today and yesterday.

LEARN Lyn’s Education and Research Network by Lynn M. Stuter is an older site  (around 1990- 2002) and not active anymore, but I like a lot of the topics. Most of the information is still relevant, and it is interesting to see how policy has changed and how it has stayed the same.

Living in Dialogue started out as an Education Week blog once written by educator Anthony Cody who now has his own blog with the same name. The old posts are always interesting and still timely and could be listed under any of the headings on this website. But teachers know Anthony as one of their own so I posted about his blog under educators and activism. In the new Living in Dialogue Anthony shares the ideas and thoughts of many educators and activists concerned with education issues.

Live Long and Prosper is written by a retired teacher who was in the classroom for 35 years. He raises tough questions about the privatization of public schools and his bio is interesting.

Mike Klonsky’s Small Talk discusses up-to-date issues on public education, school reform, and ed-politics. Klonsky is an educator and blogger and the brother of Fred Klonsky. While Chicago school reforms dominate, the blog is important to everyone experiencing school reform in their communities.

Ms. Katie’s Ramblings is another Chicago blogger whose writings resonate with everyone concerned with school reform. Ms. Katie works in a psychiatric hospital and recognizes the importance of good psychiatric care and for children and the harm done by public school reform and budget cuts. I have also heard her debate strongly concerning Teach for America and other school reforms.

Minnsanity is described as the “Land of 10,000 education reformers chipping away at public education. Let’s join together to save our public schools.” The website is a group of teachers, parents and community members concerned about public education in Minnesota.

The National Coalition to Protect Student Privacy “works to prohibit the automatic release of student information to military recruiting services gathered through the administration of the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program in high schools across the country.”

National Education Policy Center (NEPC) produces many high quality, peer-reviewed research reports about the state of public schools. Education researchers, writers, and practitioners work to ensure “that the democratic governance of public education is strengthened and policies are based on sound evidence.”

The Network for Public Education (NPE) is a sophisticated website created by Diane Ravitch and educators and parents to oppose the current misguided school reform. There is a lot of information provided from around the country to keep up-to-date with what’s happening to public schools. What I like about the NPE is the map that allows you to zero-in on a location of blogs and groups fighting school reform near you. The tool kit is helpful and the NPE also endorses candidates from around the country running for school board.

The Network of Teacher Activist Groups (TAG) is a national coalition of grassroots teacher organizing groups. Together, we engage in shared political education and relationship building in order to work for educational justice both nationally and in our local communities. TAG believes that education is essential to the preservation of civil and human rights and is a tool of human liberation. Every child has a right to a high quality, equitably funded, public education. Their Platform involves the following issues:

1. Democratic School Governance
2. School and Community-Based Solutions to School Transformation
3. Free, Public and Equitable Educational Opportunities for All Students
4. Curricula and Pedagogies that Promote Creative, Critical and Challenging Education
5. Multiple, High-quality, Comprehensive Assessments
6. Teacher Professional Development that Serves the Collective Interests of Teachers, Students, and Communities
7. Protect the Right to Organize.

North Dakota Study Group is a progressive group that started in 1972 concerned about the “narrowness” in public schools and the achievement gap. The group was started by Vito Perrone, then Dean of The Center for Teaching and Learning at the University of North Dakota, and it still addresses serious issues facing our democratic public schools. Here is some history, the group has amounted to an ongoing seminar on democratic possibilities in U.S. and world education, branching out to include related issues such as racial tensions in schools and classrooms, issues of culture, class and gender, social justice and activism, but always returning to the themes of accountability and assessment. In effect, the NDSG has been a kind of informed democratic conscience of U.S. education, constantly reminding the mainstream of alternatives and possibilities, and offering a criticism of educational reform and practice in the light of its enduring concerns with democracy and the estate of childhood. In some reform periods, the ideas of the group have met with and profoundly influenced the educational mainstream–its progressive, democratic ideas have had what the Chinese call “the mandate of heaven.” In other periods, the group has been a voice for thoughtful criticism of mainstream trends, and a supporter of alternative paths and thinking.

NYC Educator writes serious sarcasm and is easy to appreciate. Who doesn’t like to see Joel Klein get picked on? The atmosphere is all NYC but we all can relate and it is easy and enjoyable to read even though very serious.

Parents Across America (PAA) is a non-partisan, non-profit grassroots organization connecting U.S. parents and activists with workable ideas for improving public schools. The organization presented a 2011 blueprint concerning the Federal Elementary and Secondary Act (ESEA)-No Child Left Behind.

Parents United for Public Education involves Philadelphia parents working for an independent parent voice, quality schools, and keeping the public in public education. They provide a Know Your Rights Toolkit! Is your child’s class overcrowded? Have they a split grade? Missing a guidance counselor, art, music or dance classes? Can’t get your child’s concerns addressed? Help us document and report ANY consequences of this year’s underfunded schools. Useful information for everyone.

Visit our sister site: http://www.myphillyschools.com to file a formal online complaint with the state department of education.

The Perimeter Primate provides up-to-date news items relevant to public schools and corporate involvement. Sharon Higgins who also blogs on The Broad Report and Charter School Scandals also created this blog.

Public Schools Central is “a site dedicated to the United States’ public school system: examining the impact of the Common Core, the free market, and privatization on education. Deborah Duncan Owens is the author of The Origins of the Common Core: How the Free Market Became Public Education Policy,  and she is Associate Professor of Literacy Education at Elmira College.

Public Schools First NC is an important statewide nonpartisan group focused on creating good public schools in North Carolina. Red4EdNC is a part of this group which collaborates with teachers, parents, business and civic leaders. They discuss the budgetary process too. The website also contains good research studies.

Public School Shakedown is a blog that is part of The Progressive and includes the writings of a variety of well-known bloggers.

Reclaim Reform is Ken Previti’s engaging blog. Previti is a retired teacher who taught in Chicago Public Schools. He writes about the fallacy of today’s education reforms. Read his blog to keep up with what’s happening.

Russ on Reading covers much fine information about literacy instruction, but he also writes serious posts in support of teachers and public schools. Always on target.

Save Maine Schools is an interesting blog about issues relevant to everyone concerned about school reform.

Save Our Schools (SOS), a grass root organization, brings parents and educators together to “organize and reclaim” control of schools. The group demands an end to high stakes standardized tests, demoralization of teachers and the negative “rhetoric” that erodes confidence in public schools. In 2011, the group sponsored a successful, peaceful protest march well-attended in Washington, DC. In 2012, they met again, but this time with organizational meetings. They have an ongoing informative Facebook page. Watch for future marches like in August with the Save Our Schools in the Civil Rights March in Washington, D.C. Check their website for further information.

Save Our Schools Oregon  The Oregon Save Our Schools organization is well-organized and other states could learn much in setting up their own groups. The information is timely and to the point. The members are passionate and really fight for children. Their member’s blog entries are full of critical advice, like Steve Buel’s, “Think, Say, And Actually Act!” and another post, “Why Portland is Chicago.” It is worth your time to see what is happening in Oregon’s schools, because you will find the same things are happening in all schools.

Scathing Purple Musings has a great blog heavy on Florida issues but important for anyone concerned about education reform. Education writer Bob Sikes has this to say about himself, “A long time ago and a planet far, far away I was an athletic trainer for the New York Mets. I was blessed to be part of the now legendary 1986 World Series Championship. My late father told me that I’d one day be thankful I had that degree in teaching from Florida State University. He was right and I became twice blesses to become a teacher in the late 1990’s. After dabbling with writing about the Mets and then politics, I settled on education.”

Schools Matter It is important to look back at the archives of Schools Matter written by Jim Horn and occasionally guests. Current posts are important as well.

Seattle Schools Community Forum debates the issues facing Seattle Public Schools. This website supports “high quality public schools that educate all students to become passionate, lifelong learners. Also find out about meetings happening in the school district. There are articles for all and good coverage of special ed. issues.

Seattle Education has timely blog posts about Seattle’s public school system, and like most of the regional blogs, they provide excellent information for the country about education reform. Sue Peters and Dora Taylor, both were founding members of Parents Across America, and Dora was acting president of that group 2013 and 14.

SourceWatch is from The Center for Media and Democracy and it provides “well-documented information about corporate public relations (PR) campaigns, including corporate front groups, people who ‘front’ corporate campaigns, and PR operations.

Stephen Danley is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy and Administration at Rutgers-Camden University. His blog which includes the Local Knowledge Blog deals with “research involving urban neighborhoods as well as partnership and protest in cities. He has a particular soft spot for both Camden, NJ and New Orleans, LA.” There’s more and he has received many honors…. Check it out.

Substance News was created by George N. Schmidt, and while the reporting is most relevant to Chicago, it is also important for everyone. In fact, the news organization appears to include very relevant coverage of charter schools, special education, elementary and high schools, union action and other topics pertaining to public schools from around the country.

Susan Ohanian‘s website focused on resistance to privatization and the corporate-politico assaults on public education. Her website postings were far-reaching in educational importance on almost every topic having to do with schools. The archived posts are important too if you can find them. Susan no longer manages her blog, but her books are still available. I highly recommend them.

Teachers’ Letters to Bill Gates is written because educators know Bill Gates wields plenty of power when it comes to public schools. Does he read the poignant letters from teachers across the country who want to get their classrooms back–where they can teach with professional integrity and creativity? Well he better, because this country will never have great schools and bright students without the feedback and involvement of dedicated, caring professional teachers.

Tennessee Education Report by Andy Spears, covers serious education issues in the State of Tennessee that resonate across the country. This blog includes issues like high-states testing and value-added measurement.

Troy LaRaviere’s Blog post about the loss of special education services in Chicago Public Schools was informative, but there are many other great posts about CPS and reform too! I liked how he spoke in this particular post “Like Thieves in the Night: Deceptive CPS Student Service Cuts Spark Principal Uprising” about the loss of real jobs and how such loss would affect students with special needs. Describing how principals were treated in this process was also revealing. Troy is a principal, and how he manages to find the time to pen anything is amazing. If you put his name in Google you will find plenty more activism for children involving CPS.

TULTICAN. Thomas Ultican’s blog is not to be missed! He keeps track of the latest information concerning the corporate takeover of schools and provides up-to-date information on all that which newly informs the rest of us.

Valerie Strauss, The Answer Sheet: A School Survival Guide for Parents (And Everyone Else), of The Washington Post provides in-dept coverage and discussion of education issues in a clear, engaging way. The blog is a must read for anyone concerned with public education.

Wait What? is a blog by educator Jonathan Pelto who also happens to be running for governor in Connecticut! Read about it HERE. Wait What? works “to educate, persuade and mobilie through ‘perceptive and acerbic’ observations about Connecticut Government and Politics.” It is a blog for everyone concerned about schools and education.

The Washington Teacher is out of Washington D.C. and written by Candi Peterson. It covers a variety of education topics involving social justice, school politics, and labor. I appreciate the section “Save Our Counselors.” School guidance counselor positions are threatened just like teaching. The posts here are candid and well-written.

With A Brooklyn Accent is Mark Naison’s blog. Mark is a Professor of African-American Studies and History at Fordham University and Director of Fordham’s Urban Studies Program. He has many interesting views on public education and school reform and is a proponent of authentic community schools. He is a great supporter of public schools.

Zinn Education Project is by Howard Zinn, the historian and social activist, who developed the Zinn Education Project—teaching materials and reading material pertaining to education, civil rights, and activism. This is a must for anyone in the struggle to keep public education.

Journals

Rethinking Schools began in 1986 with a group of Milwaukee Teachers who began Rethinking Schools to address problems like basal readers, standardized testing and the textbook dominated curriculum. The nonprofit organization has grown but still addresses the relevant issues of America’s public schools. The Rethinking Schools magazine is popular amongst teachers and parents. Additional fun learning activities are included.

Film Documentary and YouTube Videos

Education, Inc   Is a documentary about how money and politics are affecting our public schools.  by Brian Malone

An Inconvenient Truth Behind Waiting for Superman  Shaw Mitchell

Standardized Lies Money & Civil Rights: How Testing is Ruining Public Education  Influence Point

The Current School Reform Landscape  Christopher H. Tienken

Radio

The War Report on Public Education on BBS Radio was hosted by Dr. James Avington Miller, Jr. an “activist, professor, teacher, and independent scholar. His program spoke about the terrible reforms that have taken over public schools. James is passionate about the fight to save our public schools. His program is no longer on the air, but you can still catch the hosts interesting guests he used to have on the Sunday afternoon program. Click on the link above to the website where you can listen.

Special Reports

“Got Dough? How Billionaires Rule Our Schools.” by  Joan Barkan, Dissent. 2011.

“Education at Risk from a Flawed Report.”  by Tamin Ansary. Edutopia. March 9, 2007.

Books

A Chronicle of Echoes: Who’s Who in the Implosion of American Public Education by Mercedes K. Schneider

A Parent’s Guide to Public Education in the 21^st Century: Navigating Education Reform to Get the Best Education for My Child  by Russ Walsh

The Crucial Voice of the People, Past and present: Education’s Missing Ingredient by Victoria M. Young

The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education by Diane Ravitch

Education Flashpoints: Fighting for America’s Schools by Alan Singer

Education & the Making of a Democratic People by John I. Goodlad, Roger Soder, and Bonnie McDaniel

Education Hell: Rhetoric vs. Reality by Gerald W. Bracey

The Educator and the Oligarch: A Teacher Challenges the Gates Foundation by Anthony Cody

50 Myths & Lies That that Threaten America’s Public Schools: The Real Crisis in Education by David C. Berliner, Gene V. Glass and Associates

First Do No Harm: Progressive Education in a Time of Existential Risk by Steve Nelson

Gadfly on The Wall: A Public School Teacher Speaks Out on Racism and Reform by Steven Singer

The Gates Foundation and the Future of U.S. “Public” Schools, Edited by Phillip E. Kovacs

The Gift of Education: Public Education and Venture Philanthropy by Kenneth J.   Saltman

Giving Kids the Business: The Commercialization of America’s Schools by Alex Molnar

The History of Institutional Racism in U.S. Public Schools by Susan Dufresne

Hoosier School Heist: How Corporations and Theocrats Stole Democracy From Public Education by Doug Martin

Imaging Education: The Media and Schools in America Edited by Gene I. Maeroff

In Praise of Education by John I. Goodlad

In Schools We Trust: Creating Communities of Learning in an Era of Testing and Standardization by Deborah Meier

The Manufactured Crisis: Myths, Fraud, and the Attack on America’s Public Schools by David C. Berliner and Bruce J. Biddle

Many Children Left Behind: How the No Child Left Behind Act Is Damaging Our Children and Our Schools by Deborah Meir, Alfie Kohn, Linda Darling-Hammond, Theodore R. Sizer, George Wood And Others

Misguided Education Reform: Debating the Impact on Students by Nancy E. Bailey

NeoVouchers: The Emergence of Tuition Tax Credits for Private Schooling by Kevin G. Welner

The New Economics: For Industry, Government, Education by W. Edwards Deming

Not With Our Kids You Don’t! 10 Strategies to Save Our Schools by Juanita Doyon

On the Death of Childhood and the Destruction of Public Schools: The Folly of Today’s Education Policies and Practices by Gerald W. Bracey

Public Education Under Siege Edited by Michael Katz and Mike Rose

Reading Educational Research: How to Avoid Getting Statistically Snookered by Gerald W. Bracey

Reign of Error: The Hoax of the Privatization Movement and the Danger of America’s Public Schools by Diane Ravitch

Savage Inequalities: Children In America’s Schools by Jonathan Kozol

Saving Our Schools: The Case for Public Education Saying No To “No Child Left Behind” Edited by Ken Goodman, Patrick Shannon, Yetta Goodman, Roger Rapoport

School Choice: The End of Public Education? Mercedes K. Schneider

School Commercialism: From Democratic Ideal to Market Commodity (Positions: Education, Polities, and Culture) by Alex Molnar

The School Reform Landscape: Fraud, Myth, and Lies by Christopher H. Tienken and Donald C. Orlich

Setting the Record Straight: Responses to Misconceptions About Public Education in the U.S. by Gerald W. Bracey

The Shame of the Nation: The Restoration of Apartheid Schooling in America by Jonathan Kozol

The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism by Naomi Klein

This is Not A Test: A New Narrative on Race, Class, and the Future of Education by José Luis Vilson

Tough Liberal: Albert Shanker and the Battles Over Schools, Unions, Race, and Democracy by Richard D. Kahlenberg

Uncommon: The Grassroots Movement to Save Our Children and Their Schools by Kris Nielson

What You Should Know About The War Against America’s Public Schools by Gerald W.  Bracey

Why Is Corporate America Bashing Our Public Schools? by Kathy Emery and Susan Ohanian

With Malice Toward All? The Media and Public Confidence in Democratic Institutions by Patricia Moy and Michael Pfau

Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Dragon: Why China Has the Best (and Worst) Education System in the World by Yong Zhao

Why Is You Always Got to Be Trippin: School Reform and the Racial Divide by Ciedie Aech

Books and Blogs about Schools in Other Countries

Learning Matters: The Truth About Our Schools by Roger Titcombe (England)

Books From The Other Side (It is important to understand the opposition–check them out of the library)

Lessons of Hope: How to Fix Our Schools by Joel Klein

Politics Markets & America’s Schools by John E. Chubb and Terry M. Moe

Reinventing Education: Entrepreneurship in America’s Public Schools by Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., Chairman and CEO of IBM