Reality and Education

A poorly designed system produces poor results. Problems with the public education system are reported every day in periodicals and books. Improving student achievement is too important a societal issue to continue stumbling along the same unending path of let’s try this educational fad and then move to the next proposed solution. The uniqueness of this book is that the myths surrounding education and learning are exposed; it’s like cleaning the lenses of your glasses so you can get a clear view of the world. Once myths are moved aside, reality can settle in, and a practical model for improving education can be developed.

“The shelves in book stores are weighed down with "fix-it books", many of which provide opinions more often than solutions to fix the problems in our education system.In Reality and Education, Dr. Wentland offers a no-frills, common sense solution to improving education leadership, school culture and student achievement. This is definitely an approach that will make educators stand up and take notice!”

Reality and Education serves as a handy primer for sorting out what is important in education policy. Wentland argues that the purpose of pre-collegiate education is simply learning, not solving an array of societal problems. Learning is elicited by effective teachers who provide clear explanations of what children should learn, what is considered an acceptable quality or level of performance, opportunities for practice and regular feedback, and an explicit understanding of the conditions under which this learning should take place. Teachers are also responsible for conveying to students that successful learning results from effort, time, and persistence. The author emphasizes that, ultimately, students are responsible for their learning. This point varies from current policy, which places full responsibility on teachers for student acquisition of knowledge....The arguments are persuasive and this book is recommended to readers wishing to fully examine the complexities of education policy. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, research, and professional collections. CHOICE
In this pithy volume, Daniel Wentland surveys the landscape of K-12 education and illuminates a number of important truths. This volume is a useful guide for those seeking to understand our educational challenges. -- Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute
Daniel Wentland’s book is an excellent analysis of the learning environment and where and how it lets us down. His prescription for fixing it is reasonable and practical, and one that is bound to make educators eager and enthusiastic to take a good second look at the system and make it more enriching and responsive. -- Stephen Bernhut, editor, Ivey Business Journal
The shelves in book stores are weighed down with 'fix-it books', many of which provide opinions more often than solutions to fix the problems in our education system. In Reality and Education, Dr. Wentland offers a no-frills, common sense solution to improving education leadership, school culture and student achievement. This is definitely an approach that will make educators stand up and take notice! -- Dr. Susan P. Lee, Director of Academic Affairs, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning

Dr. Daniel Wentland is the author of Strategic Training: Putting Employees First and Organizational Performance in a Nutshell. His articles have been published in the Ivey Business Journal, Compensation and Benefits Review, and Education.

A poorly designed system produces poor results. Problems with the public education system are reported every day in periodicals and books. Improving student achievement is too important a societal issue to continue stumbling along the same unending path of let's try this educational fad and then move to the next proposed solution. The uniqueness of this book is that the myths surrounding education and learning are exposed; it's like cleaning the lenses of your glasses so you can get a clear view of the world. Once myths are moved aside, reality can settle in, and a practical model for improving education can be developed.

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