Setting the Record Straight

School Administrator, Sept, 1997 by Dan Woll

Gerald Bracey, widely known to educators for aggressively challenging the grim assessments of public schools, solidifies his reputation in his latest work.

In Setting the Record Straight, he argues that America's much-maligned public schools are better than critics would have us believe with a defense so adamant that at times the reader feels uncomfortably pushed into a "circle the wagons" mentality.

From the publication of misleading statistics in A Nation at Risk to the suppression of the Sandia research to current propaganda from the Heritage Foundation, Bracey convincingly argues that a steady campaign of disinformation has been intended to undercut the standing of public schools. His abundant research is punctuated through telling anecdotes and quotes from the likes of ex-Education Secretary William Bennett, famous for declaring that U.S. schools were being smothered by an "administrative blob."

The book is organized conveniently. Each of the 18 short chapters focuses on a frequently voiced criticism of public schools (plummeting SAT scores, unfavorable international comparisons, et. al.) Within each chapter the reader finds a quick rebuttal, a detailed rejoinder that includes graphs and statistics and a summary. This simple pattern makes the book powerful resource for educators who feel overwhelmed by sensational accusations or single-shot arguments.

Although Bracey pointedly notes the need for considerable improvement in our schools, Setting the Record Straight is much more successful at defending schools than in describing how they can improve. To those looking for a standing eight count to recover from the current beatings, Bracey offers just what the doctor ordered.

(Setting the Record Straight, by Gerald W. Bracey, Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development, 1997, 215 pp. with index, $18.45 softcover. Available from AASA Distribution Center, P.O. Box 411, Annapolis Jct., Md. 20701-0411. Toll-free: 888-782-2272; or 301-617-7802, Stock # 755-SA)