Debunking the Middle-Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools Are Good for All Kids

Many parents search for a 'good' school to enroll their children. They look at the school's standardized test scores and check out demographic statistics, but fail to investigate the strengths of these schools that have a vibrant mix of races and cultures. Eileen Gale Kugler offers a unique perspective on what every educator, parent, and community leader should know about reaping the rich harvest of our diverse schools. This book provides guidance on how we can all work together to dispel the myths and nurture the opportunities that these schools offer such as academic challenge and social advantages. Anecdotes from Kugler's personal experience are included as well as information from 80 interviews with key educators, parents, and students. This book stands alone as a resource that pulls all of this information together. Will be of interest to anyone who cares about education. See Wendy Burt-Thomas's interview with author Eileen Kugler at http: //askwendy.wordpress.com/?s=kugler

About the Author :
Eileen Gale Kugler is president of Kugler Communications and a national advocate for diverse schools.

Review :
The book is particularly valuable because of the rarity of its voice and its call for parents to rethink the types of environments needed for the future of students in this country. This book is recommended for all parents, teachers, and professors of education who are looking for literature that chronicles health rather than pathology in public education...Essential.-- "Choice Reviews" [Kugler's] voice is not only powerful but sincere to the point where it forces readers to confront what is at stake in the future of America and to see for themselves that diverse schools are better schools.-- "Electronic Journal On Teaching English As A Second Language" Kugler, a national advocate for diverse schools, challenges myths about ethnically, racially, and economically diverse schools and shows what is possible when educators are committed to finding ways to help every child succeed and when students, parents, and community members support the administrators and teachers in their efforts. She lays out a rationale for considering diverse schools among the most desirable, and provides strategies for strengthening diverse schools.-- "Reference and Research Book News" Parents want to provide their children with the best education possible. Will they be better prepared for life by being isolated or by being exposed to the reality of our diverse population? This book provides valuable insights about some of the myths circulating our society regarding schools highly impacted by minority students.--Isis M. Castro, Fairfax County (Virginia) School Board Member Since critical value judgments can be formulated as early as age eight, it is important that all educators and families recognize the need for our children to function and excel in diverse situations. Diverse classrooms can be the most resourceful, energetic, and respectful collaborations in the country. These are the classrooms that will prepare our students for life. This book emphasizes the fact that we need to be working toward that goal.--John H. Funk, 1996 Utah Teacher of the Year and Adjunct Professor at the University of Utah Eileen Kugler points out that schools with diverse student populations can provide a first class academic education while also teaching students to be comfortable with personal differences. She performs a great service to the educational community by debunking many of the myths about diverse schools. Excellent reading for everyone interested in quality education.--Denny R. Vincent, past president, National Association of Secondary School Principals A community and civic blueprint for the 21st Century, Debunking the Middle Class Myth: Why Diverse Schools are Good for All Kids is must reading for parents, educators, community leaders, and policy makers who want to move beyond the quick fixes of test scores and standardized education as the sole measures of America's schools. The events of September 11 made us all realize that the 'test' we all face is not the SAT or the ITBS, but the test of life. Eileen Kugler writes convincingly that our public schools are much more than knowledge factories, but the core institution in every community. Our public schools are the affirmative answer to the question: can a coherent, stable, unified culture be created out of the people of diverse traditions, languages, and religions? Kugler's voice is eminent in building these schools.--Arnold F. Fege, director of Public Engagement and Advocacy, Public Education Network If you want to learn the value of diversity (or if you want to convince parents of that value) pick up a copy of Eileen Kugler's Debunking the Middle Class Myth. It weaves an eloquent and inspiring chronicle of the successes of well-run diverse schools.-- "American School Board Journal"