What Schools Can Be

In entertaining stories of teachers, children, parents and principals Ackerly shows leadership in action and defines the elements of educational cultures, how culture is the delivery system for education, and how individuals can be leaders and create the culture of whatever group they are in. In What School Can Be Ackerly shows the elements of school culture necessary for delivering good education. For more than a century, “blue ribbon” task forces have been formed to improve America’s public schools. Most of these efforts have failed because of mistaken notions about education and a failure to understand children. Education is not just curriculum, standards, and textbooks. It is the culture of the school, and the culture of American schools hasn’t changed much. Ackerly’s stories of teachers, students, and principals at work show what can be accomplished when good educational cultures are applied.