Unexamined Axioms in American Schooling

Abstract

Since 1980, I've been responsible for an irregular personal column in the Journal-Dialectic-devoted to the examination of certain beliefs in our field, hopefully promoting worthwhile ones and exposing the others. For this issue, I've invited Professor Seymour Sarason of Yale University to discuss his new book, Schooling in America: Scapegoat and Salvation. In my view, this is not only the most interesting but possibly the most important of that sea of books and reports published in recent months on the crisis in education. This work continues Professor Sarason's argument that our unshakable world views inhibit us from acting with rationality and thoughtfulness about a problem which touches each of our lives-the education of our young. Today, “everyone” is dissatisfied with the schools, but schooling itself seems to be returning to society's widespread interest. In a way, Professor Sarason's brilliant exumination illuminates the proposition that schooling was never the scapegoat, blet schools are. Embedded in this work are the ideas for true reform, ideas which come from the wisdom of a scholar who has learned how to take the obvious seriously when it's true and to reject the fashionable when it's a lie. During the coming months, I will invite other distinguished colleagues to share this opportunity to present their ideas to our readers.