The Wasted Years: American Youth, Race, and the Literacy Gap

Identifies the factors that are perpetuating the literacy gap in American secondary schools. Features include: interviews with practitioners from a variety of school systems and subject areas budget data on classroom resources secondary sources talking about deprofessionalization of teachers socialization of teachers the effects of unionization on teachers' attitudes toward their jobs

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Part 1: Literacy Practices in Three States Chapter 4 Part 2: What Are Best Practices in Literacy? Chapter 5 Part 3: Obstacles to Better Literacy Practices Chapter 6 Part 4: The Response of Clinton, Bush, and Congress Chapter 7 Appendix A: National Press Clips about Missing Books Chapter 8 Appendix B: Student and Teacher Interview Guides Chapter 9 Appendix C: Summer Reading for St. Albans Upper School, Washington, D.C. Chapter 10 Selected Bibliography Chapter 11 Index

About the Author :
James McCabe works on faculty development in the Center for Teaching Excellence at American University in Washington, D.C. As a writing instructor in community colleges in New York City, McCabe saw the damage done when teenagers arrive in college without adequate reading and writing skills and without the belief that they belong in higher education. He is interested in studying how teachers can build an allegiance to print and how schools increase exposure to print in young adults.

Review :
James J. McCabe, Jr., brings information from the front lines of classrooms that the very children who most need encouragement to read widely and deeply - poor children and children of color - are given the least encouragement and opportunity to read by their teachers and schools. The consequent harm to them as individuals and to us as a nation is incalculable. -- Karin Chenoweth, Washington Post education writer A book for our times! [It] will be useful for practitioners and the general public alike. It addresses the latest federal regulations and especially speaks to No Child Left Behind. McCabe clarifies that the problems surrounding the literacy gap are not just social, not just economic, not just race?these and others are all factors, but they cannot be excuses, and they can't be ignored. In the battle to close the literacy gap, practitioners on the front lines need clear thinking and those in positions ofleadership need to take responsibility and make informed decisions. This book will help these things to happen... -- Ramon C. Cortines, former superintendent of Pasadena, San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, California schools, as well as former Chancellor of Recommended. CHOICE Identifies the origins of the literacy gapy between white students and their black and Hispanic counterparts, then examines how classroom practices and national educational strategies perpetuate this gap in American secondary schools. Education Week Includes the voice of practitioners and researchers in an attempt to identify the factors that are perpetuating the literacy gap in American secondary schools. Hispanic Outlook A book for our times! [It] will be useful for practitioners and the general public alike. It addresses the latest federal regulations and especially speaks to No Child Left Behind. McCabe clarifies that the problems surrounding the literacy gap are not just social, not just economic, not just race...these and others are all factors, but they cannot be excuses, and they can't be ignored. In the battle to close the literacy gap, practitioners on the front lines need clear thinking and those in positions of leadership need to take responsibility and make informed decisions. This book will help these things to happen. -- Ramon C. Cortines, former superintendent of Pasadena, San Jose, San Francisco, and Los Angeles, California schools, as well as former Chancellor of