Elizabeth A. Kelly

This is a socialist critique of the United States' education system. The blatant inequalities of American education are the most important theme, but I wish the author had discussed immediate problems and practical solutions in greater detail. Instead she offers a heavy dose of educational theory, proceeding through Habermas and Dewey to various other theorists of education and democracy. These doyens of unclear writing can hardly provide much useful guidance for educational reform. I think the theoretical excursions in this case really detract value from the book. An international comparison of educational systems would have provided a much better avenue for the author's criticism. Her plans for facilitating equal educational opportunity have, at least in broad outline, already been enforced in many European countries for several generations, with good results.… (mer)