20th Anniversary Edition of Rethinking Schools

Posted by on October 13, 2006

The new issue of Rethinking Schools celebrates 20 years of teaching for justice and equality. With excerpts from articles from the past 20 years and new reflections from editors and supporters, this anniversary edition affirms that “each issue of the magazine and every book we publish is a gesture of hope, of our conviction that together we can change the world.”

The 20th anniversary issue of Rethinking Schools includes:

* The Line Between Us, by Bill Bigelow. At a time of unprecedented mobilization for immigrant rights, excerpts from Rethinking Schools’ latest book show how teachers are using stories and hands-on activities to promote an understanding of the economics that shape immigration and empathy for immigrants.

* A Pedagogy of Resistance. An Interview with Howard Zinn, by Catherine Capellaro. The author of A People’s History of the United States says teachers must learn how to engage students in dialogues and to question the current administration.

* It Was 20 Years Ago Today. In the anniversary editorial, Rethinking Schools editors remain hopeful about transforming schools despite daunting challenges.

* Band-Aids or Bulldozers: What’s Next for NCLB? by Stan Karp. The No Child Left Behind Act comes up for renewal next year against a backdrop of growing opposition and spreading negative impact. Karp takes a close look at the issues and stakes involved.

* Thoughts on the 20th Anniversary of Rethinking Schools, by Sonia Nieto. The author says Rethinking Schools has been one of her “stalwart allies, a source of inspiration and hope that reminds me what this struggle for equal education is all about.”

* From Tourist Hawaii to the 20th Anniversary, by Wayne Au. The author of an article that promoted critical teaching of Native Hawaiian history and culture looks back at his relationship with Rethinking Schools.

* Rethinking Teacher Unions, by Bob Peterson. One of the founding editors of Rethinking Schools reflects on how Rethinking Schools and the Milwaukee Teachers’ union found some hard-earned common ground.

* School Board Journeys, by Jennifer Morales. A Milwaukee school board member reflects on the vision and the reality of making schools work for all students.

* Dispatch from the Front Lines of the Voucher Wars, by Barbara Miner. A veteran reporter shares her trials and tribulations of trying to keep an eye on the voucher movement in Milwaukee.

* Pedagogy of the Absurd, by Ken Goodman. There’s an agenda behind the “reading wars” and it harms teachers and students, says the author.

* Defending Bilingual Education, by Kelley Dawson Salas. English language learners come to school with a built-in opportunity to become bilingual. Schools should help them seize this opportunity.

* Silencing Teachers in an Era of Scripted Reading, by Elizabeth Jaeger. An educator who was disciplined for resisting NCLB mandates shares her story.

* Apologies to Sandra Cisneros, by Maja Wilson. An English teacher takes a novel approach to evaluating the Educational Testing Service’s “Criterion” grading program and finds it woefully — yet amusingly — inadequate.

* Standing Up to Military Recruiters, by Arlene Inouye. The story of the Los Angeles Coalition Against Militarism in Our Schools, one of the most successful initiatives in the country.

Join Rethinking Schools as it celebrates its first 20 years and begins the next. Get the special anniversary issue when you subscribe at http://www.rethinkingschools.org/, or download a PDF of the full issue for $5. (You can also get a free pdf of the latest issue as a special bonus when you subscribe online, credit card orders only.) To order by phone call 1-800-669-4192.

Thanks for supporting Rethinking Schools,

Catherine Capellaro
Managing Editor

PS. Check out the new Rethinking Schools book, “The Line Between Us: Teaching About the Border and Mexican Immigration” at http://www.rethinkingschools.org/publication/mx/