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Chronicles the history of two schools seeking to change the world through democratic education.
Educating for Equality chronicles the histories of two New York City schools that made social justice their highest priority: New York City's Ethical Culture School (ECS) and Downtown Community School (DCS). The book examines issues of class, race, education, democracy, and progressivism through their engaging stories over almost a century. Believing that education can change the world, the schools pioneered innovations like integrated enrollment, manual training, direct ethical instruction, Black studies, an interdisciplinary curriculum, and adult intercultural education to accomplish their broader societal goals. Educating for Equality allows students of education—including the history, philosophy, and social foundations of education—to explore complex topics through the real-world experiences of these two schools. The book examines educational issues that remain pressing today, issues like integration, equity, inequality, heterogeneous classrooms, and educational innovation. It provides historians, policymakers, practitioners, and all readers with an opportunity to consider new perspectives on the purposes and practices of schooling.
"As educators at every level today struggle to deal with the myriad consequences of democracy's moral erosion, this book on two visionary American schools not only establishes a crucial historical template that should never be forgotten, but it can also be used to help educators and citizens in the task of reimagining the democratic purposes of the nation's schools." — Kerry Burch, author of Democratic Transformations: Eight Conflicts in the Negotiation of American Identity
"What would it mean to create a school that aims to change the world? This book is a deep dive into two schools that tried to do exactly that. Backed by a depth of research, this book takes us through the triumphs and tragedies of these schools as they fought to maintain their idealistic visions while navigating the difficult real-world realities of schooling. This is a must read for all who dream about what education could be." — Bryan Warnick, coauthor, with Campbell F. Scribner, of Spare the Rod: Punishment and the Moral Community of Schools
Roger P. Catania is a lifelong educational practitioner, leader, scholar, and policymaker who represents the fourth judicial district on the New York State Board of Regents.