Public Education for Our Nation's Democracy

Written in an accessible style for a broad audience, these essays are designed to be conversation starters about where and how we can best support public education.

Throughout his extraordinary career, educational psychologist David Berliner visited hundreds of classrooms in multiple countries. After many such visits, he wrote short notes about what he saw, felt, and imagined as he observed teachers, students, and administrators attempting to make education happen.

Intended to provoke readers to think and discuss key ideas in K–12 education, Public Education for Our Nation's Democracy brings together 19 essays on the issues that define the United States public school system, including teacher professionalism and autonomy; teacher–student relationships; charter, religious, and private schools; curricular choice; high-stakes testing and equity; COVID-19 learning loss; multicultural education; and parent–teacher relationships. A common theme that runs throughout these essays is appreciation and advocacy for the U.S. public school system—warts and all!

Book Features:

• Commentaries, insights, and recommendations for improving teaching and learning, written by one of the keenest observers of America’s schools.
• Coverage of important topics in education written in a conversational voice to be accessible to a wide audience.
• Inspiring and thought-provoking essays about one of America’s greatest inventions—its huge system of public education.

David C. Berliner is Regents’ Professor Emeritus at Arizona State University. He has been a visiting scholar at universities throughout the world and is the winner of numerous awards.

“This searing and brilliantly accessible collection is both a love letter to public schools and a battle cry against the forces dismantling them. With sharp insight and deep humanity, David Berliner makes the case that defending our schools is inseparable from defending democracy itself.”
—Joel Westheimer, professor of democracy and education, University of Ottawa, Canada

“Each essay in this book is a master class in educational insight and civic conscience. Berliner offers a stirring reminder that defending public education is defending democracy itself.”
—Yong Zhao, Distinguished Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies, University of Kansas

"​In this insightful collection, educational scholar David Berliner intertwines his deep knowledge of educational theory and policy with penetrating insights into effective teaching and meaningful learning.​"
—Howard Gardner, Hobbs Research Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education, and author of The Essential Howard Gardner on Mind