What School Could Be

"From the country’s best schools to its worst, Ted Dintersmith has been there and reports what he’s seen with a critical eye and a compassionate heart. His findings will surprise you, infuriate you, and, most of all, inspire you. Filled with amazing stories and extraordinary conversations, What School Could Be is hands down the best book on education that I’ve read in a very long time. Read it and act!"

All children love to learn: they don't all get on with school. The problem isn't the children: it's how we do school. As Ted Dintersmith shows in this landmark book, it's not only possible to reimagine education, it's vital that we do. Too often schools are snagged in a corrosive web of tangled regulations, political agendas, outmoded institutional habits and a repressive culture of standardized testing. But there's hope. In among the undergrowth, there's an emergent counter culture of inspirational schools that are rising to the real challenges of educating young people for life in the 21st century. What School Could Be is a both vivid account of this grassroots revolution and a hard-headed analysis of its desperate significance. Above all it is a passionate manifesto for forms of education that do justice to the deep talents and diverse futures of all our children. It's essential reading for anyone who cares about young people and their education: and that should be everyone.

"What School Could Be is a thought-provoking and inspiring look at our education system, from the perspective of an innovation expert who spent thousands of hours listening to and learning from great teachers all across our country. This book combines an incisive critique with insightful examples of exhilarating education. It will inform you, challenge you, and — hopefully – move you to action. A must read for anyone who cares about our children and the future of our nation."