Books about Urban Education

Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough, 2008.

A portrait of African-American activist Geoffrey Canada describes his radical approach to eliminating inner-city poverty, one that proposes to transform the lives of poor children by changing their schools, their families, and their neighborhoods at the same time. This book was the selection for 2009's City Thinks program.

The Biggest Job We'll Ever Have: the Hyde School Program for Character-based Education and Parenting by Laura Gauld, 2002.

In the town of Bath, Maine, a small private school is redefining how we teach children; in the process, a renewed vision of education is being created. The Hyde School requires a commitment not just from students but also from families. This is a school committed to the personal growth and character development of children and their families.

Changing the Odds for Children at Risk: Seven Essential Principles of Educational Programs that Break the Cycle of Poverty by Susan B. Neuman, 2009.

As Newman (formerly involved with the No Child Left Behind program) explains in this book, children who come to school from dramatically unequal circumstances leave school with similarly unequal skills and abilities. Newman describes programs for changing the odds for children.

Come On, People: On the Path from Victims to Victors by Bill Cosby, 2008.

Bill Cosby and Alvin F. Poussaint have a powerful message for families and communities as they lay out their visions for strengthening America, or for that matter the world. They address the crises of people who are stuck because of feelings of low self-esteem, abandonment, anger, fearfulness, sadness, and feelings of being used, undefended and unprotected. These feelings often impede their ability to move forward. The authors aim to help empower people make the daunting transition from victims to victors.

Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: a Personal History of Violence in America by Geoffrey Canada, 1995.

When award-winning educator and activist Geoffrey Canada was growing up in the Bronx, the “sidewalk” boys learned the codes of the block from their elders and were ranked –and to some degree protected- through the rituals of fist, stick, and knife. "… A brutally honest account of a childhood in the Bronx…and a hopeful plea for the salvation of our children…" Janet St. John, Booklist.

Losing Ground: American Social Policy, 1950-1980 by Charles Murray, 1984.

Murray's book was referenced in Paul Tough's book Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America. In his book, Murray argued that the social programs of the '60s and the '70s worsened the plight of the poor and minorities.

The Truly Disadvantaged: the Inner City, the Underclass, and Public Policy by William J. Wilson, 1990.

Wilson's book was referenced In Paul Tough's book Whatever It Takes, as a response to Murray's book Losing Ground . Wilson identified many of the same symptoms of urban decay that Murray did, but he diagnosed a very different root cause and prescribed a very different cure.

Urban America: Opposing Viewpoints, edited by Laura Egendorf, 2005.

This is a collection of articles in the Opposing Viewpoints series. It presents both pros and cons on various topics dealing with urban American issues such as poverty, education, crime, housing, health, and more.

What Money Can't Buy: Family Income and Children's Life Chances by Susan Mayer, 1997.

Mayer's book was referenced in Paul Tough's book Whatever It Takes. Mayer explains in her book that each era of state-sponsored generosity toward the poor in American history has been followed by an era in which government aid was judged to be part of the problem, not part of the solution.

Films about Urban Education

The Perfect Life: Growing Up in Urban America directed by Sam Lee, 2007.

Originally released as a documentary film, this film takes a hard look at the challenges of growing up in America's inner cities.

I am a Promise: the Children of Stanton Elementary School by Alan and Susan Raymond, 2005.

This film includes interviews with Deanna Burney and the families and children of the Stanton Elementary School in North Philadelphia, an inner-city neighborhood.

11/09

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