Charting a Professional Course: Issues and Controversies in Education

A supplementary reader for Introduction to Foundations of Education, Introduction to Teaching, or Issues in Education courses. Designed to provide the knowledge and understanding teachers need in order to make informed decisions, this comprehensive selection of readings addresses numerous challenging issues facing education today: vouchers, charter schools, accountability, high-stakes testing, bilingual instruction, technology, and others. The readings were chosen to support today's emphasis on professionalism in teaching, and so meet three essential criteria: 1) They address central issues; 2) they are accessible to prospective, novice, and veteran teachers alike; and, 3) they offer multiple perspectives on the issues they address. The range of authors reflects the broad spectrum of educational thinking today, while the ten-part organization and special features maintain the authors intended focus on maximizing learning opportunities and encouraging personal and professional reflection.