In the words of African-American historian, James Anderson: We are still trying to develop both the philosophy as well as a system of education which really does respect the intelligence and abilities of ordinary people. In Quashing the Rhetoric of Reform: An Educational Design That Reaches All Children, Lee and Budzisz share with the reader the necessity for true educational reform. They tell of their efforts to quash the rhetoric described as school reform and replace it with a philosophy that is designed to nurture the flame of greatness in every child.
Lee and Budzisz blazed the trail of reform by developing the Milwaukee Village School, a Milwaukee Wisconsin Public School. They provide a road map to develop a new school or change an existing one to allow educators the capability to reach all children. Quashing the Rhetoric of Reform gives real examples of what the authors did and what they tried to do, while they also express their dreams for the future. Lee and Budzisz pull no punches when telling of the damage done by those who lacked support for children but are clear about the successes that prevailed as these children, one by one, developed the joy of learning.
Readers will be able to extract a secondary school philosophy as well as specific ideas that can be used to change a classroom, an existing school, or develop a new school from the beginning as Lee and Budzisz take you step by step through their reform process. This is a must read for educators, parents, and students who are tired of seeing constant failure just to hear the rhetoric of reform. It is also for those who truly respect the intelligence and abilities of all children.