School: The Story of American Public Education - by Sarah Mondale (Paperback)

About the Book

A timely book on the history of America's public schools is based on the PBS documentary narrated by Meryl Streep. Esteemed historians of education journey through history and across the nation to recapture the idealism of our education pioneers. 125 photos.

Book Synopsis

Esteemed historians of education David Tyack, Carl Kaestle, Diane Ravitch, James Anderson, and Larry Cuban journey through history and across the nation to recapture the idealism of our education pioneers, Thomas Jefferson and Horace Mann. We learn how, in the first quarter of the twentieth century, massive immigration, child labor laws, and the explosive growth of cities fueled school attendance and transformed public education, and how in the 1950s public schools became a major battleground in the fight for equality for minorities and women. The debate rages on: Do today's reforms challenge our forebears' notion of a common school for all Americans? Or are they our only recourse today?

This lavishly illustrated companion book to the acclaimed PBS documentary, School, is essential reading for anyone who cares about public education.

Review Quotes

[An] exemplary, thoroughly readable account.
-Publishers Weekly

"This book takes you through the history of how the idea of public education began, to where we are right now. . . . It's so beautifully done, judiciously done, and I'm really proud to help it along."
--Meryl Streep

About the Author

Sarah Mondale is president and co-director of Stone Lantern Films, as well as a public school teacher in New York. She directed and co-produced the award-winning PBS series School (narrated by Meryl Streep), PBS primetime film Marcel Proust, Emmy award-winning Asylum and Megamall. Her most recent film, Backpack Full of Cash (2016) explores the privatization of public schools in America.