reviews a lot of research studies from a lot of countries and suggests that that view, although it is conventional wisdom, grossly underestimates the importance of schools. I agree with you, because the data agree with you, that the most stark differences in school performance are among different teachers in the same school rather than between one school and another, but throughout the Western world, students with tough home conditions tend to get the lousiest teachers and the most underperforming curricula.
Other writers who have important points to make about how to help learners with the worst home environments by improving schools include the collaborators from Teach for America who have put together the book and website Teaching as Leadership
There is a lot yet to be done that is very feasible (well, except for politically feasible in most states of the United States) to improve the education of the most disadvantaged learners and to help them reach significantly higher levels of academic achievement.
Good points, all of which I agree with, and I'll check out those sources. The book I snapped the pic from was Equality and Achievement, which is similar to the book you're linking to.
"reviews a lot of research studies from a lot of countries and suggests that that view, although it is conventional wisdom, grossly underestimates the importance of schools. "
I do think it's important to note though that you can believe that the achievement gap is mostly coming from home factors, while also not underestimating the importance of school. That is, you can believe that all kids are basically receiving an equally crappy education. You're certainly right though about the kids from the worst home conditions getting stuck with the worst teachers within schools.
John Hattie in his book Visible Learning: A Synthesis of Over 800 Meta-Analyses Relating to Achievement
http://www.amazon.com/Visible-Learning-Synthesis-Meta-Analys...
reviews a lot of research studies from a lot of countries and suggests that that view, although it is conventional wisdom, grossly underestimates the importance of schools. I agree with you, because the data agree with you, that the most stark differences in school performance are among different teachers in the same school rather than between one school and another, but throughout the Western world, students with tough home conditions tend to get the lousiest teachers and the most underperforming curricula.
Other writers who have important points to make about how to help learners with the worst home environments by improving schools include the collaborators from Teach for America who have put together the book and website Teaching as Leadership
http://www.teachingasleadership.org/
and Eric Hanushek at Stanford with his research on the effects of variance in teacher quality.
http://edpro.stanford.edu/hanushek/content.asp?contentId=60
There is a lot yet to be done that is very feasible (well, except for politically feasible in most states of the United States) to improve the education of the most disadvantaged learners and to help them reach significantly higher levels of academic achievement.