Lessons from the Heartland
Barbara Miner
(Author)
Description
"Miner's story of Milwaukee is filled with memorable characters . . . explores with consummate skill the dynamics of race, politics, and schools in our time." --Mike Rose, author of The Mind at Work
Weaving together the racially fraught history of public education in Milwaukee and the broader story of hypersegregation in the rust belt, Lessons from the Heartland tells of a city's fall from grace--and its chance for redemption in the twenty-first century.
A symbol of middle American working-class values, Wisconsin--and in particular urban Milwaukee--has been at the forefront of a half century of public education experiments, from desegregation and "school choice" to vouchers and charter schools. This book offers a sweeping narrative portrait of an all-American city at the epicenter of public education reform, and an exploration of larger issues of race and class in our democracy. The author, a former Milwaukee Journal reporter whose daughters went through the public school system, explores the intricate ways that jobs, housing, and schools intersect, underscoring the intrinsic link between the future of public schools and the dreams and hopes of democracy in a multicultural society.
"A social history with the pulse and pace of a carefully crafted novel and a Dickensian cast of unforgettable characters. With the eye of an ethnographer, the instincts of a beat reporter, and the heart of a devoted mother and citizen activist, Miner has created a compelling portrait of a city, a time, and a people on the edge. This is essential reading." --Bill Ayers, author of Teaching Toward Freedom
"Eloquently captures the narratives of schoolchildren, parents, and teachers." --Library Journal
Product Details
| Publisher | New Press |
| Publish Date | January 01, 2013 |
| Pages | 320 |
| Language | English |
| Type |  Hardback |
| EAN/UPC | 9781595588296 |
| Dimensions | 9.1 X 6.1 X 1.2 inches | 1.2 pounds |
About the Author
Reviews
--Publishers Weekly
"In her inimitable style, Barbara Miner has written an explosive educational biography of her hometown. The story of Milwaukee is really the multi-layered tale of how America has long avoided committing to the education of low-income students of color. A must read for anyone seeking the real back story of our educational policy-making."
--Lisa Delpit, bestselling author of Multiplication Is for White People" and Other People's Children
"What a great read! Miner's story of Milwaukee is filled with memorable characters and powerful events that have national resonance. Through Milwaukee, she explores with consummate skill the dynamics of race, politics, and schools in our time."
--Mike Rose, Professor of Social Research Methodology in the UCLA Graduate School of Education and Information Studies, author of Back to School, Why School and The Mind at Work
"Lessons from the Heartland is a social history with the pulse and pace of a carefully crafted novel and a Dickensian cast of unforgettable characters. With the eye of an ethnographer, the instincts of a beat reporter, and the heart of a devoted mother and citizen activist, Miner has created a compelling portrait of a city, a time, and a people on the edge. This is essential reading."
--Bill Ayers, author of To Teach: The Journey in Comics and Teaching Toward Freedom, co-editor of City Kids, City Schools
"Miner eloquently captures the narratives of schoolchildren, parents, and teachers. . . . Readers in and around Wisconsin will especially find this title of interest, as will educators who wish to avoid Milwaukee's pitfalls."
--Library Journal
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