The authors review "White middle class identities and urban schooling," by D. Reay, G. Crozier and D. James. This book focuses on the perspectives of white middle-class parents who make "against"-the-grain school choices for their children in urban England. It provides key insights into the dynamics of class practising that are…

The author reviews three books that provide complementary and thought-provoking insights. The three books under review are: (1) "Reproducing class: education, neoliberalism, and the rise of the new middle class in Istanbul," by Henry J. Rutz and Erol M. Balkan; (2) "Technology, culture, family: influences on home life," by…

Examines Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind," focusing on the critics' charge that Bloom is undemocratic. Bloom's sense of democracy and the role assigned to the university in helping preserve his favored regime are discussed. (SM)

Reviews Robert Westbrook's book, "John Dewey and American Democracy," which analyzes intellectual debates in which Dewey was involved. The book provides a critical account of Dewey's role as an agent of political change and a promoter of participatory democracy and participative decision making. (SM)

Reviews eight books that address the issues of democratic governance. Includes a historic look at democratic leadership; a history of multicultural America; and the view that the humanities, as taught in school, have become deeply politicized. Other topics are a historical defense of bilingual education, population changes and educational policy,…

Reviews I.F. Stone's "The Trial of Socrates," discussing the application of Stone's particular perspective (vintage American liberalism) and method (the muckraking tradition) to his reassessment of democracy and free speech in ancient Athens via Socrates' trial and condemnation. Compares Ancient Greek and modern concepts of free speech…

Examines Allan Bloom's book, "The Closing of the American Mind," which angrily addresses failures in liberal and humane higher education in American democracy. The paper claims that though much of what Bloom writes is accurate, the book is often irrelevant and poorly written, distracting attention from the central concern. (SM)

Reviews the final volume of Lawrence Cremin's trilogy on American education, "American Education: The Metropolitan Experience, 1876-1980" (1988) and summarizes the earlier volumes. Inequality, equity, and the role of education in a democracy are the central themes. (DM)

Discusses the inappropriate racial categorizations of minorities that have routinely infected evaluations and social research. By adhering to principles of democracy and including minorities as participants in dialogue, evaluators can avoid such damaging effects in their work. (Author/SLD)

Chelimsky, former head of the Program Evaluation and Methodology Division of the General Accounting Office, suggested that advocacy by evaluators destroys their credibility. Evaluators should, this author argues, be advocates for democracy and the public interest, with the question being how explicitly and how defensibly. (SLD)

Contrasts the social views presented in Arthur M. Schlesinger's "The Disuniting of America" with those of Cornel West's "Race Matters." Discusses issues such as diversity, separatism, and unity within a multicultural democracy. Concludes that educators should be informed about the views of both authors. (CFR)

Discusses Allan Bloom's "The Closing of the American Mind," focusing on Plato's influence on the problems which Bloom sees facing the university and democracy and on his proposed solutions. The paper describes Bloom's four related theses about the university and democratic life, noting some problems which his Platonic approach creates.…

Reviews eight books: "Autonomous Development" (R. Carmen); "Community Power and Grassroots Democracy" (M. Kaufman, H. Alfonso); "Questioning Empowerment" (J. Rowlands); "Seeking a Balance" (A. Fowler); "Funding Community Initiatives" (S. Arrossi et al.); "Whose Voice?" (J. Holland, J.…

Reviews a book suggesting that public education built on democratic values guarantees an equal education for students from all social, racial, and cultural groups. The book addresses how issues related to race, politics, and social class have clouded educational improvement efforts in California and describes classroom activities and teaching…

This review essay explores the complexities and challenges involved in addressing controversial issues in the K-12 public school classroom, drawing from two recent books: Noddings and Brooks's "Teaching Controversial Issues: The Case for Critical Thinking and Moral Commitment in the Classroom" and Zimmerman and Robertson's "The Case…