Dan McElwain’s Recommended Urban Education Book List

The following titles offer encouragement, direction, and examples of success in the education of poor or minority populations. They are some of the best resources I have come across as I researched successful urban education.  The titles are hyper-linked to their page on Amazon.com for more information.  

This is a fantastic resource and encouragement for anyone who is actually interested in what successful urban education looks like. There are very good schools in very bad neighborhoods all across America. If you think you know that poor kids can’t learn well, please read this book. It is very short and powerful.
 
Official Book Description
Too many educators make excuses for the failure of most public schools to teach low-income children. But across the nation dozens of high-performing principals have identified those effective practices that allow all children to excel regardless of income level. In this new report, Samuel Casey Carter, a Bradley Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, examines the common practices of twenty-one principals of low-income schools who set the standard for high achievement. The lessons uncovered in these case studies provide an invaluable resource for anyone interested in providing increased educational opportunities for low-income children.         

Young, Gifted, and Black : Promoting High Achievement Among African American Students by Claude Steele (Contributor), Theresa Perry (Contributor), Asa Hilliard III (Contributor)

This inspirational and thought-provoking book offers three different perspectives on achievement among American Black students. All Black students should read this book. All teachers of Black students should read this book. If you are a Black person or know any Black people or think you might work in any education-related job with any Black people, you should read this book. I especially liked the essay by Asa Hilliard III.  

Short Book Description
"Young, Gifted, and Black will change the public conversation about the achievement of African-American students. Three scholars, using their various disciplinary tools, show how race shapes the experiences of African American young people in schools. This book is a primer for the promotion of high achievement. All Americans need to listen."

The Schools We Need: And Why We Don't Have Them by E. D. Hirsch

This book clearly explains the current lack of success of American public school education methods and philosophy and gives the history of where these bad ideas came from – a real page-turner for those of you who love to hate injustice and other abuses of power.

Book Description From Publishers Weekly
Best-selling author Hirsch (Cultural Literacy) argues that American education, kindergarten through high school, has been undermined by a deep contempt for factual knowledge and an addiction to fads such as "project-oriented" instruction, "relevant" topics, "child-centered" activities and building students' self-esteem. In a damning, highly provocative, full-scale assault on today's educational establishment, this University of Virginia English professor calls for a return to a so-called traditional approach emphasizing drill, verbal practice, memorization and interactive classroom instruction. Hirsch, who advocates a grade-by-grade core curriculum, buttresses his pragmatic tack with cognitive-psychology research and international comparative studies of classroom practice. An enjoyable 30-page glossary demystifies educators' slogans, pet phrases and jargon. A rigorous polemic.

Cultural Literacy : What Every American Needs to Know by E. D. Hirsch

This book is a direct attack on the anti-knowledge/ anti-memorization/ anti-fact movement in contemporary educational philosophy. It ties solid research about the cognitive processes of reading and thinking critically to specific education strategies and philosophies. The book is half essay and half a list of facts every American student should learn at some point. You should read this book if you do or ever will work in education of if you do or ever will have kids who you want to become educated. 

Book Description
In this forceful manifesto, Hirsch argues that children in the U.S. are being deprived of the basic knowledge that would enable them to function in contemporary society. Includes 5,000 essential facts to know.

A Framework for Understanding Poverty by Ruby K. Payne

If you wonder why poor people often spend tons of money on rims and speakers for their old rusty cars, this book offers an actual explanation. This book outlines the very different societal values held by the poor, the middle class, and the wealthy. This value map offers an explanation for many misunderstandings between economic classes in our society. Please read this book if you are going to work with or serve the poor. Please read this book if you are poor and feel trapped in poverty.