Saving Schools: History, Politics, and Policy in US Education
Instructor:
Paul E. Peterson
Henry Lee Shattuck Professor of Government
Kennedy School of Government
Taubman, Room 306
Teaching Assistant:
Carlos X. Lastra-Anadon
Ph.D. Candidate, Government Department
Harvard University
clastraanadon@fas.harvard.edu
NOTE: Please contact the TA for all course-related inquiries.
About the Course
This course seeks to answer the following question: How did a school system, once the envy of the world, stumble so that the performance in math, science, and reading of U.S. students at age 15 fell below that of students in a majority of the world’s industrialized nations? Exploring that question, we identify the personalities and historical forces—the progressives, racial desegregation, legalization and collective bargaining—that shaped and re-shaped U.S. school politics and policy. Then, we seek answers to a second question: What are the best ways of lifting the performance of American schools to a higher level? To explore these questions, we look at ideas and proposals of those who want to save our schools—be it by reforming the teaching profession, holding schools accountable, or giving families more school choices.
Please click on the link above for the syllabus. Note that it is still being fully finalized.
Course Summary:
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