The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System: Detroit, 1907-1981 is a 1993 nonfiction book by Jeffrey Mirel, published by the University of Michigan Press. It discusses the rise and decline of Detroit Public Schools (DPS) in the 20th century, with the book's discussion focusing on the 1920s, the zenith of DPS, through the 1980s. Mirel argued that the Great Depression, various trends related to racial tensions stemming from the Civil Rights Movement,[1] the development of new suburbia, and other factors were primarily responsible for the decline of DPS;[2] the conflicts between blacks and whites and between labor and management eroded the consensus reached during the Progressive Era that schools should receive ample financing.[1] They were forces that a school superintendent or a school board would not be able to overcome.[2]
In 1999 the book's second edition was published.[3]
As part of his research Mirel used board of education proceedings, papers written by persons involved in the educational politics, and Detroit-area major newspapers.[4]
Contentedit
The book's primary content involved politics related to school financing, including expenditures and taxation, with less emphasis going to changes in curriculum.[1] Mirel argued that the social classes and races need to come together and cooperate so that the Detroit school system can be properly funded and maintain its academic standards; the author makes this view known in the epilogue.[5] The second edition has a new epilogue that covers the late 1980s and the 1990s.[3]
Arthur Zilversmit of Lake Forest College wrote that how Mirel relates national trends in desegregation relate to the local issues are a "real strength" of the book.[2]
Jon C. Teaford of Purdue University wrote that the book's author "allocates blame and praise with a fairly even hand and appears unwilling to bend his data to conform to a preconceived end."[6] Teaford stated that the lack of jargon and how it was "clearly written" were beneficial for the book.[4]
Zilversmit stated that the book is an "admirably balanced and comprehensive history".[2]
Daniel Perlstein of the University of California at Berkeley wrote that the book "thus demonstrates how historical scholarship on the decline of urban school systems can illuminate the relationship of critical educational issues to the broader political questions troubling America."[7]
Harvey Kantor of the University of Utah argued that Mirel was correct in saying that divisions and race in class contributed to the downfall of the schools, but that Kantor argued that the necessity to restructure the education system to accommodate black stakeholders was the true underlying reason, and not due to any declining standards of education.[1]
Teaford concluded that the book is "a superb account of the Detroit schools, and his study is a model for other scholars."[6] Teaford argued that Mirel should have covered the period after 1981 (he had reviewed the first edition), included opinions and viewpoints from students, and included more "critical scrutiny" on school administrators and teachers.[4]
Teaford, Jon C. (Purdue University). "The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System: Detroit, 1907-1981" (Book Review). American Journal of Education, 1 February 1994, Vol.102(2), pp.255-25.
^ abcdKantor, p. 754. The paragraph where Kantor analyzes Mirel's argument begins with "By locating the origins of urban decline in the 1930s," and see: "Indeed, because restructuring links between blacks and the schools meant altering the forms of school decision making and organization (including the neighborhood school) on which the Progressive consensus was based, not, as Mirel suggests, because black demands undermined the quality of urban education[...]"
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The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Detroit 1907 1981 is a 1993 nonfiction book by Jeffrey Mirel published by the University of Michigan Press It discusses the rise and decline of Detroit Public Schools DPS in the 20th century with the book s discussion focusing on the 1920s the zenith of DPS through the 1980s Mirel argued that the Great Depression various trends related to racial tensions stemming from the Civil Rights Movement 1 the development of new suburbia and other factors were primarily responsible for the decline of DPS 2 the conflicts between blacks and whites and between labor and management eroded the consensus reached during the Progressive Era that schools should receive ample financing 1 They were forces that a school superintendent or a school board would not be able to overcome 2 In 1999 the book s second edition was published 3 Contents 1 Background 2 Content 3 Reception 4 See also 5 References 6 Notes 7 External linksBackground editAs part of his research Mirel used board of education proceedings papers written by persons involved in the educational politics and Detroit area major newspapers 4 Content editThe book s primary content involved politics related to school financing including expenditures and taxation with less emphasis going to changes in curriculum 1 Mirel argued that the social classes and races need to come together and cooperate so that the Detroit school system can be properly funded and maintain its academic standards the author makes this view known in the epilogue 5 The second edition has a new epilogue that covers the late 1980s and the 1990s 3 Arthur Zilversmit of Lake Forest College wrote that how Mirel relates national trends in desegregation relate to the local issues are a real strength of the book 2 Jon C Teaford of Purdue University wrote that the book s author allocates blame and praise with a fairly even hand and appears unwilling to bend his data to conform to a preconceived end 6 Teaford stated that the lack of jargon and how it was clearly written were beneficial for the book 4 Reception editFor creating this book Mirel won the 1994 95 Outstanding Book Award from Stanford University and the American Educational Research Association and he also won the 1994 Critics Choice Award from the American Educational Studies Association 3 Zilversmit stated that the book is an admirably balanced and comprehensive history 2 Daniel Perlstein of the University of California at Berkeley wrote that the book thus demonstrates how historical scholarship on the decline of urban school systems can illuminate the relationship of critical educational issues to the broader political questions troubling America 7 Harvey Kantor of the University of Utah argued that Mirel was correct in saying that divisions and race in class contributed to the downfall of the schools but that Kantor argued that the necessity to restructure the education system to accommodate black stakeholders was the true underlying reason and not due to any declining standards of education 1 Teaford concluded that the book is a superb account of the Detroit schools and his study is a model for other scholars 6 Teaford argued that Mirel should have covered the period after 1981 he had reviewed the first edition included opinions and viewpoints from students and included more critical scrutiny on school administrators and teachers 4 See also editEducational inequality in Southeast MichiganReferences editKantor Harvey University of Utah The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Detroit 1907 81 Book Review The Journal of American History 1 September 1994 Vol 81 2 pp 753 754 Perlstein Daniel University of California Berkeley The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Detroit 1907 1981 Book Review History of Education Quarterly 1 April 1998 Vol 38 1 pp 80 83 Teaford Jon C Purdue University The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Detroit 1907 1981 Book Review American Journal of Education 1 February 1994 Vol 102 2 pp 255 25 Zilversmit Arthur Lake Forest College The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Detroit 1907 81 Book Review The American Historical Review 1 October 1994 Vol 99 4 pp 1406 Notes edit a b c d Kantor p 754 The paragraph where Kantor analyzes Mirel s argument begins with By locating the origins of urban decline in the 1930s and see Indeed because restructuring links between blacks and the schools meant altering the forms of school decision making and organization including the neighborhood school on which the Progressive consensus was based not as Mirel suggests because black demands undermined the quality of urban education a b c d Zilversmit p 1406 a b c The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System Archive University of Michigan Retrieved on July 19 2015 a b c Teaford p 258 Teaford p 257 a b Teaford p 255 Perlstein p 80 External links editThe Rise and Fall of an Urban School System University of Michigan Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Rise and Fall of an Urban School System amp oldid 1158792511, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
