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mdaalder's review against another edition
5.0
In Class War: The Privatization of Childhood, Megan Erickson makes a wideranging but compelling argument that the root of our unequal child care and education systems is our unequal society. Erickson traces a number of examples of this, beginning with public and private schools, and the ways that US public schools that serve wealthier students receive more funding. She discusses segregation (of both the class and racial varieties). However, she doesn't just leave her argument in the realm of education - the last third of the book is spent detailing feminist arguments on childhood, child-rearing, and how this affects mothers and women in general in society.
Erickson's ultimate conclusion is that the only way to achieve fairness for children is to do the same for adults, while also advancing radical ideas for restructuring of our public education system, our culture around childhood, and the way we think about women's labor.
Erickson's ultimate conclusion is that the only way to achieve fairness for children is to do the same for adults, while also advancing radical ideas for restructuring of our public education system, our culture around childhood, and the way we think about women's labor.
beepbeepbooks's review
4.0
A powerful critique of education reform without structural critique, Erickson weaves her way through American Education reform and the pitfalls conservatives and liberals have gotten us into. The end chapters open up the social imaginary to new configurations of motherhood, parenthood, and collective education. I'll continue to grapple with these ideas for a long time
gfox3737's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so poignant and covers one of the most important topics that permeates society today. I love that Erickson uses extensive research to point out the major problems plaguing the school and societal systems of education in the U.S. AND pulled from her educator experience as well. I'm a second year high school teacher that truly wants the best for students and am continually trying to improve my own approach to instruction and involvement. I feel the drag placed on teachers personally and financially - but I WANT to continue to teach regardless. Erickson writes about the importance of everyone caring for ALL children, theirs and others, in a true communal approach to education. I hope more voices in prominent places feel the same way as her and that they will be heard and heeded.
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