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Dr. Mano Signham
The Achievement Gap in US Education: Canaries in the Mine has an overview of all indices that show the existence of an achievement gap. It discusses the negative political and social consequences of this gap, why it is such a serious problem, and exposes many of the common myths about the causes of it, such as the importance of socio-economic status, social pathologies, and biology. |
On the basis of case studies of success stories, the book identifies those factors that lead to widespread student underachievement, and the achievement gap is seen as a symptom of poor teaching practices. It argues that we should make learning enjoyable for its own sake and need to improve the quality of education received by all students and not just minorities. |
| The book looks at those factors that go into good teaching practices and what kinds of programs would be necessary in order to produce teachers who have those abilities. It examines why good teaching practices are relatively rare in US schools and also why poor teaching methods occur more frequently in minority and poor districts. It also explains why the accountability movement and its emphasis on high-stakes testing will fail to produce the sought-for improvements. |
| The book also examines of the question of how it could happen that the educational system could 'fail' in such a spectacular way and suggests that it is by design, not by accident or incompetence |
