Schooling for Humanity: When Big Brother Isn't Watching / Edition 1

by David O. Solmitz, Kathleen Kesson

Overview

Schooling for Humanity: When Big Brother Isn’t Watching documents David O. Solmitz’s thirty-year struggle as a controversial, anti-establishment teacher in a small, rural, central Maine high school. Using journal entries, accompanied by administrative reprimands, intertwined with historical documentation of the intensifying conflict between democratic pedagogy and capitalist domination in our public schools, the author gives a narrative account of his efforts to create a democratic classroom in a traditional secondary school setting. By incorporating theories of progressive educators into his practice, Solmitz demonstrates the possibility of achieving the ideals of democratic schooling in spite of an increasingly bureaucratic, rigid, and authoritarian system.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780820452074
Publisher:	Peter Lang Publishing Inc.
Publication date:	06/12/2001
Series:	Counterpoints Series: Studies in the Postmodern Theory of Education , #178
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	244
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)

About the Author

The Author: David O. Solmitz received his M.A. in education from Goddard College. He began his teaching career at the Ecole d’Humanité in Switzerland, the continental equivalent of A. S. Neill’s «Summerhill School». For thirty years he taught social studies at Madison High School in Madison, Maine, incorporating social activism as well as the fine and performing arts into his democratically oriented classroom. He has published numerous commentaries on education in Maine newspapers.

Editorial Reviews

Solmitz documents his 30-year career as a controversial, anti- establishment teacher in a small, rural, central Maine high school. Using journal entries, accompanied by administrative reprimands, intertwined with historical documentation of the intensifying conflict between democratic pedagogy and capitalist domination in our public schools, Solmitz provides a narrative account of his fight to create a democratic classroom in a traditional secondary school setting. Specific chapters discuss the purposes of public education, the problem of discipline, and issues of diversity. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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