Ed School Follies

Ed School Follies documents Rita Kramer's investigation into schools of education across the United States. Through visits to multiple teacher training programs and interviews with students, faculty, and administrators, Kramer provides an inside view of how America prepares its teachers. The book follows Kramer's journey through different education schools as she observes classes, examines curricula, and records conversations with participants at all levels. Her research spans both public and private institutions, urban and rural settings, and programs of varying sizes and philosophies. Through her observations and analysis, Kramer explores the disconnect between teacher training programs and the practical needs of classroom educators. The book examines the theories, methods, and priorities that shape American teacher education. The work raises fundamental questions about the effectiveness of education schools and their impact on K-12 teaching in the United States. Kramer's findings contribute to ongoing debates about educational reform and the future of teacher preparation.

Readers view this as an exposé of problems in teacher education programs based on Kramer's visits to 15 schools of education. Positive reviews focus on: - Documentation of specific examples showing disconnect between theory and classroom reality - Clear writing style and organization of evidence - Validates experiences of teachers who felt their ed school training was inadequate Critical reviews mention: - Some readers found it one-sided and overly negative - Lacks proposed solutions - Data and examples from 1991 may be outdated From review sites: Amazon: 4.5/5 (32 ratings) Goodreads: 3.8/5 (46 ratings) Sample reader comment: "As someone who went through an ed school program in the 90s, this book perfectly captures the emphasis on social theory over practical teaching methods." - Amazon reviewer Another notes: "Makes valid points about problems in teacher education but doesn't acknowledge programs that are doing things right." - Goodreads reviewer

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Inside American Education by Thomas Sowell The book documents the decline in academic standards at education schools and their impact on K-12 teaching quality.

The Making of Americans by E.D. Hirsch Jr. This analysis traces the history of American education reform movements and their effects on teacher preparation programs and classroom instruction.

Left Back: A Century of Failed School Reforms by Diane Ravitch The text chronicles how education schools embraced pedagogical theories that undermined academic content and knowledge transmission.

The Death and Life of the Great American School System by Diane Ravitch This examination of education reform explores how teacher training programs and pedagogical approaches have impacted student achievement over decades.

🎓 Rita Kramer spent two years visiting education schools across America, sitting in on classes and interviewing students, faculty, and administrators to write this revealing exposé. 📚 The book caused significant controversy upon its 1991 release for its criticism of how teachers were being trained to focus more on social justice than academic content. 🏫 Kramer discovered that many education schools shared nearly identical syllabi and teaching philosophies, despite being in different regions with different student populations. ✏️ Before writing about education, Rita Kramer was a successful journalist who wrote for publications like The New York Times Magazine and The Wall Street Journal. 📖 The book's findings influenced later education reform discussions, particularly regarding the gap between teacher preparation and actual classroom needs.