Education's Flashpoints: Upside Down or Set-Up to Fail

by Jim Dueck

Overview

The body of the text proceeds to identify and explain many flashpoints which are current in a world of education where students’ best interests are hampered by teachers’ self-interests. Whenever an issue emerges in education and is analyzed in the context of what is best for students or teachers, teacher unions naturally pursue benefit for their members. This does not demean their effort; rather, it explains their intentions, and making their objectives transparent is a recurring theme throughout the book.

Dueck demonstrates that politicians are a core part of the problem because of their predilection for siding with power structures in society, namely unions and teachers rather than the clients of their services. Their thirst for votes from teachers’ unions, which represent one of the largest special interest groups within our communities, is not only a contributing factor in causing but also ameliorating these flashpoints. Underlying this thirst for electoral support is the reality that students cannot vote and do not have capacity for discerning how these complex educational issues impact them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781475813173
Publisher:	Bloomsbury Academic
Publication date:	12/05/2014
Pages:	268
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Jim Dueck’s experience in education spans more than 35 years. Beginning as a teacher at West Dover Elementary School in Calgary in 1970, Jim soon stepped into the role of principal and then served for 13 years in district administration in British Columbia eventually becoming superintendent of Abbotsford, and later Nanaimo Ladysmith School Divisions. While working, Jim continued his post secondary studies, obtaining Baccalaureate and Masters degrees in education from the University of Calgary and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Brigham Young University.

Table of Contents

CONTENTS

Preface
Introduction

1. A Blissful Past Disrupted
2. “Holster” Your Anger
3. Accountability: Investment or Expense?
4. Class Size: Working or Learning Condition?
5. Paying Teachers for the Wrong Things
6. Students Are More Accountable Than Educators
7. Trust or Accountability
8. Teacher Gender and Fairness to Boys
9. Why is Tenure Such a Villain?
10. “Continuous Pass” and “All Pass” are Unwelcome Twins
11. Democratizing Education
12. Striking is Wrongheaded
13. School Boards Misplaced Priorities
14. Coaches Should Not Evaluate
15. What Gets Measured Gets Taught
16. The Unfairness of Prolonged Summer Vacations
17. The Pain of the Twelve Month Window
18. Measuring Leadership
19. Going from Upside-down to Right-way Up

Editorial Reviews

The new measurement of today's educational system is focused on student outcomes. This book by Dueck, longtime educator, school administrator, and assistant deputy minister in Alberta, Canada, incorporates his decades of personal experience as well as current empirical research to conclusively enlighten policy makers, professors, school administrators, educational scholars and researchers, and graduate students of school administration on the number of ways the educational system is adversely impacted and prevented from meeting students' needs. The book successfully describes many flashpoints that are current in the world of education where students' best interests are hampered by teachers' self-interests. The author argues that unions and politicians are the key contributors to the problem. Topics discussed include the accountability movement, teacher tenure, prolonged summer vacations, class size, teacher pay, and many more. Each chapter ends with a review and conclusion of key points, and the book ends with 11 recommendations and initiatives for systemwide improvement to the educational system. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

Choice

The new measurement of today's educational system is focused on student outcomes. This book by Dueck, longtime educator, school administrator, and assistant deputy minister in Alberta, Canada, incorporates his decades of personal experience as well as current empirical research to conclusively enlighten policy makers, professors, school administrators, educational scholars and researchers, and graduate students of school administration on the number of ways the educational system is adversely impacted and prevented from meeting students' needs. The book successfully describes many flashpoints that are current in the world of education where students' best interests are hampered by teachers' self-interests. The author argues that unions and politicians are the key contributors to the problem. Topics discussed include the accountability movement, teacher tenure, prolonged summer vacations, class size, teacher pay, and many more. Each chapter ends with a review and conclusion of key points, and the book ends with 11 recommendations and initiatives for systemwide improvement to the educational system. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

CHOICE

The new measurement of today's educational system is focused on student outcomes. This book by Dueck, longtime educator, school administrator, and assistant deputy minister in Alberta, Canada, incorporates his decades of personal experience as well as current empirical research to conclusively enlighten policy makers, professors, school administrators, educational scholars and researchers, and graduate students of school administration on the number of ways the educational system is adversely impacted and prevented from meeting students' needs. The book successfully describes many flashpoints that are current in the world of education where students' best interests are hampered by teachers' self-interests. The author argues that unions and politicians are the key contributors to the problem. Topics discussed include the accountability movement, teacher tenure, prolonged summer vacations, class size, teacher pay, and many more. Each chapter ends with a review and conclusion of key points, and the book ends with 11 recommendations and initiatives for systemwide improvement to the educational system. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates and above; general readers.

Choice Reviews

Living in an upside down world where almost every norm has been challenged and the rest are being tested, we are once again looking for some semblance of continuity and ways to measure progress in our professions and institutions. Dr. Dueck has bravely ventured into sensitive territory and is voluntarily challenging what is quickly becoming a chaotic situation in the field of Education in North America. By all appearances it would seem that in general, things are at a somewhat critical stage and Jim has been invited to consult at the highest levels in the land where the issues he covers here are being thoughtfully discussed and considered. I congratulate Mr. Dueck for his courage and wisdom, coming from a life time career at all levels in the field of Education, to tackle this most vital segment of our society that will determine our tomorrows.

James E. Janz

In this timely and provocative book, Jim Dueck cuts through the edu-babble and shows how good teachers have nothing to fear from testing and accountability. Dueck has done all educators a great service by debunking the self-serving arguments of teachers’ unions and reminding us what it really means to put students first.

Michael Zwaagstra

Be ready to have your views and emotions concerning education race from clarity and understanding to fierce disagreement, as Dr. Jim Dueck courageously takes on all the sensitive issues in education. He unabashedly spares no one from his critique and shines a light on every dark crevice within our North American education systems. A MUST read for anyone passionate about our public education systems.

Maria David-Evans

Dueck’s latest book is as hard hitting as his first. It is an unusual book, combining empirical research with years of personal experience. It challenges conventional wisdom about education in a no-holds-barred pursuit of a vision for schools that serve students—all students. Those serious about comprehensive reform will find the book at once disturbing and motivational. It is bound to shock and upset, but in the end it is an optimistic book filled with creative solutions and sound advice for teachers, trustees, parents, and politicians.

George Durance

Dueck’s latest book is as hard hitting as his first. It is an unusual book, combining empirical research with years of personal experience. It challenges conventional wisdom about education in a no-holds-barred pursuit of a vision for schools that serve students—all students. Those serious about comprehensive reform will find the book at once disturbing and motivational. It is bound to shock and upset, but in the end it is an optimistic book filled with creative solutions and sound advice for teachers, trustees, parents, and politicians.

Dr. George Durance