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The Shopping Mall High School: Winners and Losers in the Educational Marketplace
This second report from A Study of High Schools attacks secondary education in America by describing it as a system where all but the brightest and the most handicapped are left unchallenged
350 pages, Paperback
First published September 1, 1985
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 11, 2026
A great companion to the modern case study, In Search of Deeper Learning.
Reading both books has brought me to the following thought: 100+ years of technological growth, social reforms and academic breakthroughs, yet the American high school is strangely frozen in time.
The book shares the following thought by Horace Mann, "if one wishes to create high standards of quality in public schools in a popular democracy, one has to hope of success only if the standards are broadly established and if the populace as a whole may therefore become committed to them."
Reading both books has brought me to the following thought: 100+ years of technological growth, social reforms and academic breakthroughs, yet the American high school is strangely frozen in time.
The book shares the following thought by Horace Mann, "if one wishes to create high standards of quality in public schools in a popular democracy, one has to hope of success only if the standards are broadly established and if the populace as a whole may therefore become committed to them."
May 30, 2015
Let me be clear, in this case the rating isn't because "it was amazing". A book like this isn't going to be amazing. Interesting, yes, but amazing, no.
I read this book the first time years ago when I was writing my thesis. This 2nd read through was more of a skim through for my dissertation. The reason Powell, Farrar, and Cohen got my 5 stars is because 30 years later what they wrote is still applicable and their observations/research have stood the test of time. The last portion of the book, the chapter entitled "Origins" gives a fantastic overview of the history of education, a slightly biased overview to fit within the thesis of the book, but an extensive one nonetheless.
In addition to that I found the writing to be easy to read and understand and straightforward. I like a good engaging read when the book topic isn't especially universal.
If you are interested in studying education in depth, especially if your interests are focused on educational reform.
I read this book the first time years ago when I was writing my thesis. This 2nd read through was more of a skim through for my dissertation. The reason Powell, Farrar, and Cohen got my 5 stars is because 30 years later what they wrote is still applicable and their observations/research have stood the test of time. The last portion of the book, the chapter entitled "Origins" gives a fantastic overview of the history of education, a slightly biased overview to fit within the thesis of the book, but an extensive one nonetheless.
In addition to that I found the writing to be easy to read and understand and straightforward. I like a good engaging read when the book topic isn't especially universal.
If you are interested in studying education in depth, especially if your interests are focused on educational reform.
December 29, 2008
This book was recommended to me by my Advisor as a classic. What a great metaphor: the American high school as Shopping Mall. Some might think this book is dated, but it is still very applicable to today's high schools.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews