Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Pages: 152
•
Trim: 6½ x 9
978-1-4758-5075-8 • Hardback • May 2019 • $69.00 • (£53.00)
978-1-4758-5076-5 • Paperback • May 2019 • $34.00 • (£25.00)
978-1-4758-5077-2 • eBook • May 2019 • $32.00 • (£25.00)
Jeff Swensson served in traditional public education as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, and superintendent across the Midwest for the past 45 years. He graduated from Amherst College, received his MAT from Northwestern University, and earned his PhD from Indiana University.
John Ellis served public education across Indiana as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, assistant superintendent, superintendent, and Director of the Indiana Association of Public School Superintendents for more than 43 years. He graduated from Ball State University with a BA in education and a Master’s in Education before earning his PhD from Indiana State University.
Michael Shaffer served in schools in Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Iowa as an assistant principal, principal, and assistant superintendent. He graduated from Morehead State University with a BA and MA in elementary education and earned his Education Specialist and Education Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Ball State University.
Preface: Climb Out on a Limb with Us!
Introduction: How this primer works
Chapter 1: The Primary Purpose of Traditional Public Education vs. Free Market Theory
Chapter 2: Primer? Primer? We Don’t Need a Stinking Primer!
Chapter 3: Where in the World Is Traditional Public Education?
Chapter 4: The Mechanisms Sold as Education in the Free Market
Chapter 5: Let’s Meet Two Advocates for Free Market Schooling
Chapter 6: The Sinkhole that Is Context of the Free Market
Chapter 7: Free Market ATM’s from Coast-to-Coast
Chapter 8: The Public Good and Traditional Public Education
Chapter 9: What We Don’t Know About the Free Market Hurts
Chapter 10: Students Sold Short in the Free Market
Chapter 11: Subtlety in the Free Market: “Yeah, But…”
Chapter 12: The Free Market Is a Desperate Place; Traditional Public Education to the Rescue
Chapter 13: What It Takes to Climb Off the Limb
References
Author Bio
Indiana stands as ground zero in efforts to privatize public education. From approval of a charter school law in 2001 to the nation’s largest school voucher program, its policymakers are unwavering champions of market-driven approaches to educating children. Educators Jeff Swensson, John Ellis, and Mike Shaffer were uniquely positioned to watch the Hoosier State’s grand experiment with school choice unfold and now offer a call-to-arms to colleagues in public education. Their two volumes describe the threat posed by privatization and—more important—why and how it must be addressed. Their work makes for a fascinating read and an important resource for educators inspired to respond.
— Karen Francisco, Editorial Page Editor for “The Journal Gazette,” Fort Wayne
Given the critical discussion between public and private educational delivery in our country, Drs. Swensson, Ellis, and Shaffer have delivered an excellent book with a non-political analysis that is a good read for practitioners and non-practitioners.
— Richard Helton, PhD, President Emeritus, Vincennes University