"Winner of the PROSE Award (Education Practice & Theory category) 2022
At a time of bitter national polarization, there is a critical need for leaders who can help us better communicate with one another. In A Search for Common Ground, Rick Hess and Pedro Noguera, who have often fallen on opposing sides of the ideological aisle over the past couple of decades, candidly talk through their differences on some of the toughest issues in K–12 education today—from school choice to testing to diversity to privatization. They offer a sharp, honest debate that digs deep into their disagreements, enabling them to find a surprising amount of common ground along the way. Written as a series of back-and-forth exchanges, this engaging book illustrates a model of responsible, civil debate between those with substantial, principled differences. It is also a powerful meditation on where 21st-century school improvement can and should go next.
This book features: modeling dialogue; deliberate, sustained exchange; Left and Right politics; readable and conversational; and a unique approach."
"Pedro Noguera is one of the nations most important voices on the subject of equity and social justice in education. Never afraid to take on the tough issues, he always offers reason for hope in the face of seemingly intractable challenges. This book collects Nogueras thoughts on a wide range of educational subjects from school improvement to school violence. He examines the link between racial identity and school-related behavior, the significance of race in the racial achievement gap, the educational future of Latino immigrants, and recommends investing in the social capital of students and their parents and motivating leaders to restore public faith in education. Part One - The Student Experience 1. Joaquin's Dilemma: Understanding the Link Between Racial Identity and School-Related Behaviors 2. The Trouble with Black Boys: The Role of Environmental and Cultural Factors on the Academic Performance of African American Males 3. And What Will Become of Children Like Miguel Fernandez?: Education, Immigration, and the Future of Latinos in the United States 4. How Listening to Students Can Help Students Improve Part Two - The Search for Equity 5. Latino Youth: Immigration, Education, and the Future 6. Preventing and Producing Violence: A Critical Analysis of Responses to School Violence 7. Schools, Prisons, and Social Implications of Punishment: Rethinking Disciplinary Practices 8. Racial Politics and the Elusive Quest for Excellence and Equity in Education Part Three - The Schools We Need 9. Reclaiming the Promise of Public Education (with Alan Blankstein) 10. Standards for What? Accountability for Whom?: Rethinking Standards-Based Reform in Public Education 11. Racial Isolation, Poverty, and the Limits of Local Control as a Means for Holding Public Schools Accountable 12. Transforming Urban Schools Through Investments in Social Capital"
