Includes bibliographical references (pages 269-289) and index.
Introduction : mobility, property, and community -- Early American land policies and the marvelously efficient one-room school -- Explaining the school district consolidation movement -- "Will I see you in September?" : labor mobility and the standard school calendar -- The economic geography of school districts -- Education reforms and social capital in school districts.
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"In this provocative book, William Fischel argues that the historical development of school districts reflects Americans' desire to make their communities attractive to outsiders. The result has been a standardized, interchangeable system of education not overly demanding for either students or teachers, one that involved parents and local voters in its governance and finance. Innovative in its focus on bottom-up processes generated by individual behaviors rather than top-down decisions by bureaucrats, Making the Grade provides a new perspective on education reform that emphasizes how public schools form the basis for the localized social capital in American towns and cities"--Provided by publisher.
MIL
242643
Making the grade.
9780226251301
Education-- Economic aspects-- United States.
Educational change-- United States-- History-- 20th century.
School districts-- United States-- Finance.
School districts-- United States-- History-- 20th century.