Crossfire Education: Metaphor, Cultural Evolution and Chaos in the Schools

This book discusses public education reform in the United States. The author focuses on the relationship between education and a dynamic culture. He proposes three metaphors which reveal the cultural breaks in the educational system. The metaphors are: mind as muscle, mind as machine, and mind as a technological system. Jordan also provides a matrix in order to analyze education’s relation to culture and societal changes. Through his probing discussion, the author poses questions designed to make the reader think intuitively. He presents solutions, but claims that ‘real solutions’ must come from the people in the community. This work is a look at educational theory that calls for a revolution in our system. Jordan’s enlightening work furnishes a fresh and positive look at what we can do about education, culture, and society.