Читать книгу Standardized Education: Moving America to the Right - Arthur OSB Lieber - Страница 3

The idea for this book probably started the first day that I was bored in school. I can’t remember if that was kindergarten or first grade.

Since then I’ve had numerous conversations about schools. It didn’t take long for me to see a connection between the way in which many of our schools are run and how we have a dysfunctional political system that serves those who least need government.

I thank the many people who have indulged me in talking about the connections between poor schools and poor citizenship. Most particularly I want to thank my wife, Gloria Bilchik, who has challenged my ideas in a supportive fashion and who has helped me refine ideas. She is also an excellent editor.

Thanks also to whomever suggested to me that I post a request for an illustrator on Craig’slist. I reviewed many responses. Carol Ruzicka’s e-mail gave me access to her terrific work and also a glimpse into her political thoughts, which seemed to be right in my comfort area—progressive and also on the irony channel. I’ve never had the benefit of art work in anything I’ve written. Carol, many thanks for making the book more interesting and also easier to read.

Thanks to those who critiqued the books, most particularly Cori Austin, Bobbi Clemons, Madonna Gauding, Mark Schusky, and Barbara Lindauer. Cori gave me the needed perspective of someone who is currently immersed in both politics and school. Bobbi “figured out” school at an early age and is now a political junkie. Her thoughts are invaluable. Mark and Barbara are rare teachers who see schools through the prism of what is happening in the broader world in which we live. That means they’re committed to enriching educational experiences for students but also can laugh at both their foibles and those of others.

Madonna gave the book structure where little existed. She is a remarkable designer and has once again utilized her skills to make a book of mine much more user friendly to the readers. Madonna also kept me focused on the need for progressives to express their thoughts as clearly as possible.

Renee Shur proofread the original manuscript and found a mountain’s worth of items that needed clarification, deletion, or addition. Her detailed corrections brought clarity and unity where it did not exist.

Lisa Fox from No Waste Publishing was once again an outstanding publisher with whom to work. Her calm demeanor and knowledge of her business made the final step of producing the book extremely easy.

When I was twenty-six, I was co-founder of what was clearly a progressive school in St. Louis called Crossroads School. So many teachers and students who passed the door brought both joy and insight to me. I am truly excited that students and staff who were at the school in the early years are now in constant communication and will have a reunion in the summer of 2012. If there is any form of evaluation of a school that might be of value, it is what the students who went there are like years after graduation. Even that is subjective, but I hope to get a better sense of what we did well and what we did poorly by getting their adult perspectives on it.

Thanks also to the many students who have participated in programs sponsored by our non-profit, Civitas (Active Citizen 360). You’ve kept me motivated, given me opportunities to try new ways to interest students, and provided me with many laughs.