Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Controversial Educational Issues

by James William Noll

This expanded version of Taking Sides: Educational Issues is designed to introduce students to controversies in education. This version will retain all of the content of the twelfth edition and will feature 2 additional issues: "Can Merit Pay Accelerate School Improvement?" and "Has the Supreme Court Reconfigured American Education?"

Genres: Education, Nonfiction, Reference, Textbooks, School

376 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

Reviews

[Tena Edlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I can't decide if it's the book or the assignments that went with it that I just did not get into. Probably a mixture of both. This book presents opposite sides of different educational issues, but I found that the sides presented were so polarizing. I think most people would be somewhere in the middle of all the issues when getting all the information. But, I am a shades of gray person... I rarely see anything in black & white.

[Lorrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book provides pros and cons to several educational issues. The topics can easily be used in the classroom for debate--either by the students in small groups or for the class as a whole. I would recommend it as a really good supplement for any educational leadership class.

[Evalyn]

Intriguing title, for a class I'm about to begin.

[Brittnee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the section on constructivism very informative.

[Erik]

Interesting in that it provides multiple viewpoints for contemplation.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the format of this book. They take an issue and give both sides of the issue.

[Camille Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can't believe I haven't written a review about this before! I was assigned to read this in my master's of education courses, but it's one I would have been pleased to read even if I wasn't required to. It presents an issue that's a topic of dispute then has a person from each side present a quality argument as to their view of it. Some of the topics aren't as interesting as others, but it's easy to skip around. After reading this book, I bought Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Political Issues because I wanted to get a more balanced idea of politics.