Straitjacket

How Overregulation Stifles Creativity and Innovation in Education

George A. Goens and Philip Streifer

Public schools have been placed in a straitjacket over the past 30 years through over-regulation as a result of the growing power of the federal government over public education, expanding court decisions, state government legislation, school board policies and procedures, and the media's influence on public opinion.

The straitjacket of centralized control and coercive approaches to the problems that public education is facing is not the solution, but actually is part of the problem. And where achievement is lower than desired this book brings attention to the root cause – lack of student preparation so that more resources can be put into catching these kids up, rather than into more tests, more curriculum development, and more administrative staff needed to comply with all of this complexity and growing regulations.

We must break out of our straitjacket and give schools more flexibility in finding creative and innovative ways to address the needs of students, changing times, and professional expectations — not shackle them through regulatory mandates, closed thinking, and defective accountability processes.

R&L Education

Pages: 162 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4758-0563-5 • Hardback • October 2013 • $78.00 • (£60.00)

978-1-4758-0566-6 • Paperback • October 2013 • $34.00 • (£26.00)

978-1-4758-0568-0 • eBook • October 2013 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Aims & Objectives, Education / General, Education / Evaluation & Assessment, Education / Educational Policy & Reform / Federal Legislation

Straitjacket

How Overregulation Stifles Creativity and Innovation in Education

Hardback

Paperback

eBook

Summary

Public schools have been placed in a straitjacket over the past 30 years through over-regulation as a result of the growing power of the federal government over public education, expanding court decisions, state government legislation, school board policies and procedures, and the media's influence on public opinion.

The straitjacket of centralized control and coercive approaches to the problems that public education is facing is not the solution, but actually is part of the problem. And where achievement is lower than desired this book brings attention to the root cause – lack of student preparation so that more resources can be put into catching these kids up, rather than into more tests, more curriculum development, and more administrative staff needed to comply with all of this complexity and growing regulations.

We must break out of our straitjacket and give schools more flexibility in finding creative and innovative ways to address the needs of students, changing times, and professional expectations — not shackle them through regulatory mandates, closed thinking, and defective accountability processes.

Details

R&L Education

Pages: 162 • Trim: 6¼ x 9⅜

978-1-4758-0563-5 • Hardback • October 2013 • $78.00 • (£60.00)

978-1-4758-0566-6 • Paperback • October 2013 • $34.00 • (£26.00)

978-1-4758-0568-0 • eBook • October 2013 • $32.00 • (£25.00)

Subjects: Education / Aims & Objectives, Education / General, Education / Evaluation & Assessment, Education / Educational Policy & Reform / Federal Legislation

Author

George A. Goens, Ph.D. is a former school superintendent and an author, dynamic leader, recognized educator, and featured speaker. He is the author of six books including Mastering School Reform, Getting the Most from Public Schools: A Parent’s Guide, Soft Leadership for Hard Times, Leadership for Turbulent Times, Letters on the Promise of Living, and The Promise of Living. You can find George online at www.georgegoens.com.

Philip A. Streifer, Ph.D. is former superintendent of schools in Bristol and Avon, Connecticut and Barrington, Rhode Island. He also served as Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Connecticut, where he directed the Executive Leadership Program and was major advisor to over twenty completed doctoral students. He has published books and articles on assessment, school improvement and evaluation. He serves on the Board of Directors for the North West Evaluation Association (NWEA.org) and is a Regent at the University of Hartford, CT. His prior books are Using Data to Make Better Educational Decisions and Tools and Techniques for Effective Data-Driven Decision Making. Dr. Streifer is President and CEO of EDvisualize, LLC: www.EDvisualize.com

Table of Contents

PrefaceIntroductionChapter 1. Straitjacket

Chapter 2. The Context for Schools and the Expanding Federal Role

Chapter 3. The Narrowing Corridor – Why Deregulate?

Chapter 4. The Growing Impact of Regulation on Public Schools

Chapter 5. The Truth About Achievement and the Preparation Gap

Chapter 6. Context, Complexity, and ‘Complicatedness’

Chapter 7. Unshackling Creativity and Innovation

Chapter 8. Culture Matters

Chapter 9. So What Does This All Mean?

Chapter 10. Eight Rules To Guide Real Reform of American Public Education

Appendix A. Mandates

Appendix B. Fast Facts

Reviews

How do we create schools that are hotbeds of creativity and innovation? George Goens and Phil Streifer have gone far beyond the surface rhetoric of school reform and have shown what truly motivates students and staff to think and learn and create. Let’s heed their call that our current educational trajectory is off course and squandering our potential. This is a critically important work for anyone passionate about the future of public education and our nation.
— Mary Broderick, past president, National School Boards Association

George Goens and Phil Streifer emphasize the need to realign the role of the federal government in public education and increase decision-making authority on the local level. A push in this direction will foster independent thinking in school buildings, generating positive cultures of learning in our communities. This can only result in greater student outcomes in our classrooms.
— Daniel A. Domenech, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators