Diverse Families, Desirable Schools

In Diverse Families, Desirable Schools , Mira Debs offers a richly detailed study of public Montessori schools, which make up the largest group of progressive schools in the public sector. As public Montessori schools expand rapidly as alternatives to traditional public schools, the story of these schools, Debs points out, is a microcosm of the broader conflicts around public school choice. Drawing on historical research, interviews with public Montessori educators, and ethnographic case studies, Debs explores the forces that pull intentionally diverse, progressive schools toward elitism. At the heart of Debs's book is a thoughtful analysis of the notion of "fit" between parents and schools--an idea that is central to school choice, which is often marketed as an opportunity for parents to find the perfect fit for their kids. By exploring parents' varied motivations in choosing these schools and observing how families experience--or fail to experience--a "good fit" after having chosen a particular school, Debs makes an original contribution to the literature on school choice and sheds light on the dilemmas entailed in maintaining diversity in progressive charter and magnet schools.

Mira Debs is the executive director of Yale University's Education Studies Program and a lecturer in the Sociology Department.

In Diverse Families, Desirable Schools , Mira Debs offers a richly detailed study of public Montessori schools. Drawing on historical research, interviews with public Montessori educators, and ethnographic case studies, Debs explores the forces that pull intentionally diverse, progressive schools toward elitism. By exploring parents' varied motivations in choosing these schools and observing how families experience--or fail to experience--a "good fit" after having chosen a particular school, Debs makes an original contribution to the literature on school choice and sheds light on the dilemmas entailed in maintaining diversity in progressive charter and magnet schools. "Through interviews with parents and school personnel, Debs grapples with both the promise and the challenges of implementing a more psychologically optimal form of education. Debs's book is a tour de force that will assist and inspire everyone who sees education as a means to bring us closer to a truly integrated society." --Angeline Lillard , professor of psychology, University of Virginia "Mira Debs provides a fascinating and unprecedented window into the development and expansion of Montessori education in the United States. She complicates the stereotype of Montessori as an elite and exclusive movement, making this book a must-read for anyone concerned about bringing alternative pedagogies to a more diverse group of students." --Dana Goldstein , bestselling author of The Teacher Wars: A History of America's Most Embattled Profession "In this fascinating book, Mira Debs shatters the stereotype that white families want open-ended creative learning while black families want 'No Excuses' schools that emphasize structure and discipline. In fact, as her brilliant analysis of Montessori schools shows, families of all backgrounds are coming together in diverse-by-design schools, where their children can become empowered thinkers rather than obedient rule-followers." --Richard D. Kahlenberg , senior fellow, The Century Foundation Mira Debs is the executive director of Yale University's Education Studies Program and a lecturer in the Sociology Department.

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