American School: From the Puritans to the Trump Era

Joel Spring provides a variety of interpretations of American schooling, from conservative to leftist, in order to spark the reader’s own critical thinking about history and schools.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 522 pages
Publication date: 03 April 2018
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This extensive and in-depth history of American education aims to foster critical analysis and critical thinking by presenting alternative perspectives on each historical era. Joel Spring, known for his straightforward and concise writing style, offers a range of interpretations of American schooling, spanning from conservative to leftist, to ignite the readers' own critical thinking about history and education. Spanning from the seventeenth century to the integration into global capitalism of the twenty-first century, this tenth edition delves into the tumultuous political landscape of the present time.

In particular, the updates highlight the direct religious connections between the colonial Puritans and the current Trump administration. Chapters 1 and 2 have been revised to examine religious traditions in American schools, leading up to the educational ideas of the current U.S. Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos.

An updated Chapter 15 further establishes a link between traditional religious fundamentalist ideas and the free market arguments of the Chicago school of economists, which have influenced President Trump's administration and the influence of the Alt-Right.

Weight: 207g
Dimension: 234 x 156 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138502925
Edition number: 10 New edition