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Inventing Better Schools
by Phillip Schlechty ($17.50)
 Phillip
Schlechty argues that schools must change or become obsolete, and that
central to this change is a radical rethinking of old rules, roles, and
relationships. The author leads parents, teachers, board members, school
administrators, and community leaders through the difficult process of
improving schools. He shows how to implement reform by developing a mission
statement, setting goals, assessing results, and creating the support
for change. Defining this work as a process of altering systems of rules,
roles, and relationships that govern behavior in groups, Schlechty points
out that reinventing schools must be looked on as a continual process.
The book draws on Schlechty's experience in boardrooms and legislative
halls and from his hands-on work implementing school reform. Included
are samples of actual mission statements and strategic plans of successful
school districts.
From the inside flap:
In this powerful wake-up call to educators, Phillip Schlechty argues that
schools must change or become obsolete-and that central to this change
is a rethinking of old rules, roles, and relationships. Inventing Better
Schools offers a plan of attack that is thoughtful, practical, and full
of step-by-step advice. Schlechty shows both educators and parents how
to envision reform and design quality educational systems. He explains
how the visioning process must be rooted in real shared beliefs, how mission
statements must unpack visions into concrete goals that are connected
to action, and how the results of reform can be usefully assessed. He
points out that reinventing schools must be looked upon as a continual
process-and provides leaders with the tools to negotiate their way through
it.
Drawing on the author's vast experience in the day-to-day work of implementing
school reform, Inventing Better Schools offers new approaches for setting
standards and ensuring accountability-and includes samples of actual mission
statements and strategic plans of successful school districts.
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| What People Are Saying...
Inventing Better Schools is a winner of the National Staff Development
Counsel Book Award.
"Schlechty marshals readers through the ideas-to-action labyrinth
of improving schools...A worthy successor to his earlier work."
The American School Board Journal
"A book filled with hope. . . . Not all reformers in the country
will agree with Schlechty's solutions or even the problems, but
they will be the richer for having read what he has to say on the
subject."
Louisville Courier-Journal
"Schlechty adds a refreshing voice to the ongoing how-to-fix-our-schools
debate. . . . Highly recommended."
Library Journal
"Schlechty offers a clear and concise vision of systemic change
to address the problems with education."
The School Administrator |
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