Synopses & Reviews
Each book includes a $15 gift card from DonorsChoose.org to give to a classroom in need. The American public school system is in crisis, failing millions of students, producing as many drop-outs as graduates, and threatening our economic future. By 2020, the United States will have 123 million high-skill jobs to fill—and fewer than 50 million Americans qualified to fill them. Educators, parents, political leaders, business people, and concerned citizens are determined to save our educational system. Waiting for "Superman" offers powerful insights from some of those at the leading edge of educational innovation, including Bill and Melinda Gates, Michelle Rhee, Geoffrey Canada, and more. Waiting for "Superman" is an inspiring call for reform and includes special chapters that provide resources, ideas, and hands-on suggestions for improving the schools in your own community as well as throughout the nation. For parents, teachers, and concerned citizens alike, Waiting for "Superman" is an essential guide to the issues, challenges, and opportunities facing America’s schools.
Synopsis
The American public education system is in crisis. Millions of students attend “failure factories” that produce more drop-outs than graduates; millions more attend “nice” schools that mask mediocre achievement. The U.S.’s reading and math scores stagnate and even fall behind, while other countries continue to advance. But many are working to reinvent this system. The film Waiting for
"Superman," directed by
An Inconvenient Truth’s Davis Guggenheim, chronicles these efforts through the interlocking stories of a handful of students and families searching for alternatives, and of reformers proving that all kids can learn.
Expanding on the film’s arguments, the book Waiting for "Superman" explores politically charged topics through a series of essays by thinkers at the leading edge of educational innovation. It shows how failing schools destroy neighborhoods—not the reverse—and how research reveals that dedicated, attentive teachers are what help at-risk kids succeed. With candor, poignancy, and hope, this book encourages those inspired by the film to join the battle to save American education and our children’s future.
Synopsis
Inspired by the Sundance award-winning documentary, leading educational reformers explore how to fix our broken public school system
Synopsis
The Sundance award-winning documentary "Waiting for Superman" chronicles the efforts to improve America's education system. In this Participant Media Guide, leading educational reformers explore how to fix our broken public school system.
About the Author
Karl Weber is a writer and editor based in New York. He collaborated with Muhammad Yunus on his bestseller
Creating a World Without Poverty and has edited two previous Participant Media Guides,
Food, Inc. and
Cane Toads and Other Rogue Species.
Davis Guggenheim is a critically acclaimed, Academy Award®-winning director and producer, whose work includes It Might Get Loud, the 2009 documentary featuring Jimmy Page, The Edge, and Jack White; and An Inconvenient Truth featuring former Vice President Al Gore, which won the Oscar® for Best Documentary in 2007. More recently, Guggenheim directed Barack Obama's biographical film for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, as well as Obama's 30-minute primetime infomercial. Guggenheim has also directed many television series including Deadwood, NYPD Blue, and 24.