Ghosts in the Schoolyard

Eve L. Ewing examines the 2013 mass closure of 49 Chicago public schools through research, interviews, and personal accounts. Her investigation focuses on three schools in Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood and chronicles the community's response to the closures. As a former Chicago Public Schools teacher and Bronzeville resident, Ewing brings an insider's perspective to the conflict between city officials and local residents. She documents public hearings, protests, and conversations with students, parents, and educators affected by the school closures. Through historical analysis, Ewing traces the roots of educational inequality in Chicago's Black communities from the Great Migration through contemporary policy decisions. She explores how schools function as community anchors and how their closure impacts neighborhood identity and stability. The book confronts questions of race, power, and institutional racism in urban education policy while highlighting the deep connections between schools and their communities. Ewing's work challenges readers to consider whose voices matter in decisions about public education and community development.

Readers appreciate Ewing's personal connection to Chicago's school closures and her methodical analysis combining data with community voices. Many note her effective use of historical context to explain why residents fought to keep underperforming schools open. Common praise focuses on Ewing's clear writing style making complex policy issues accessible. Several reviews highlight her balanced presentation of different perspectives while centering the community's lived experiences. Critics say the book could have explored more solutions or alternative approaches to failing schools. Some readers wanted more comparative analysis with school closures in other cities. Ratings: Goodreads: 4.47/5 (1,200+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (165 ratings) Sample review quotes: "Explains the deep meaning schools hold in communities beyond test scores" - Goodreads reviewer "Would have benefited from examining successful school turnaround cases" - Amazon reviewer "Made me rethink assumptions about 'failing' schools" - BookRiot review

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📚 The book examines Chicago's 2013 mass school closure that targeted 49 public schools, primarily in Black neighborhoods, through both data analysis and personal narratives. 🎓 Eve L. Ewing, besides being a sociologist and writer, is also a former Chicago Public Schools teacher who taught at one of the schools discussed in the book. 🏆 The book's title comes from a question Ewing posed: "If a school is more than a school, what does it mean for a school to die?" exploring how closed schools continue to "haunt" their communities. 📝 Ewing uses innovative mixed methodology, combining traditional academic research with poetry, oral histories, and archival documents to tell the story of these school closures. 🗣️ The research heavily features the voices of students, parents, and community members who were directly affected by the closures, providing perspectives often missing from policy discussions about education reform.