My review of ‘Class Warfare’ in the Journal of School Choice
This is a preprint of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in the Journal of School Choice © 2012 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC; the Journal of School Choice is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15582159.2012.650106
Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America’s Schools, by Steven Brill. (Simon and Schuster, 2011; 496 pp.;
978-1-4516-1199-1, $28.00 hardback.)
978-1-4516-1199-1, $28.00 hardback.)
In Defense Of The Anti-Reformers
In ‘Class Warfare’ lawyer Steven Brill demonstrates his litigation skills as he lays out his case against teachers’ unions and the so-called anti-reformers. His argument is clear, concise, and compelling. As prosecutor, he calls mainly on the witnesses that will strengthen his case, skillfully cross examining them and shrewdly striking from the record almost anything that might introduce a reasonable doubt.
Brill’s argument can be summarized in four main points, which I’ll first enumerate and then challenge one by one.
1) Some charter schools prove that teachers can overcome poverty.
2) Most teachers in non-charter schools are not overcoming poverty because of many clauses i
2) Most teachers in non-charter schools are not overcoming poverty because of many clauses i