Letters to a Serious Education President

Seymour B. Sarason is Professor Emeritus of Psychology, Yale University. During his distinguished 48-year career, he has been one of the most astute observers and incisive critics of efforts to reform our schools. Among his more than 30 published books are The Predictable Failure of Educational Reform (1990), Schooling in America: Scapegoat or Salvation (1983), and The Culture of School and the Problem of Change (2nd ed., 1982).

Foreword by Andy Hargreaves Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction to the Second Edition The Letters

"Letters to a Serious Education President provides sound advice for what it would take to provide all students in the United States with a high quality education. There is wisdom and profound insights about how to improve public education in these letters, and of course, Sarason offers lots of common sense." -- Pedro Noguera, Professor "Sarason is a master of the use of cases and stories ... what comes out is his voice, emotion, commitment, and desire to make a difference." -- Theodore Creighton, Executive Director, Professor "Letters to a Serious Education President underscores the brilliance of Sarason's observations about what is and continues to be missing in how we conceptualize and hence implement schooling in our society... Indeed, Sarason is calling for a different education - one that enlives the curiosity and lifelong learning of all children and their teachers." -- Rhona Weinstein, Professor "A brilliantly written treatise ... Professor Sarason provides a most insightful glimpse into the inner workings of the political/public ploicy process, skillfully reflecting the quiet musings of a master observer." -- Patrick H. DeLeon, Former Assistant to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye "Seymour Sarason has graced us with a jewel of a book that includes the central themes in his lifetime of teaching and writing." -- Ann Lieberman, Professor and Co-Director "The timing of this book could not be more fortuitous; the challenge could not be better framed; and the need to learn how to educate our children - all children - could not be more urgent. Policymakers, take heed." -- Keith Geiger, Former President "After decades of thought and study, Seymour Sarason has uncovered the most critical barriers to meaningful educational reform. In this book, he uses a novel device - letters to the President of the United States - to describe what it takes for reform to make a real difference where it matters most - in the typical classroom. Let's hope that not only the current President will read this book, but also all who are affected by and care about our schools." -- Cary Cherniss, Professor of Applied Psychology "This is a book that makes you want to think, compels you to examine the questions raised, and forces you to look around and take stock and decide if what we have is what you want." -- PsycCRITIQUES, September 2006