Research and Practice in Education

Reviews / Votes

Stephen Davis has written a readable, engaging book about the fragile intersection between research and practice. He brings this subject to life by drawing on his own rich, personal experiences as a teacher, school administrator, and university faculty member. Teachers and administrators will discover a sympathetic, realistic portrayal of their work while acquiring a somewhat critical view of academia as Stephen experienced it. -- Edwin M. Bridges, professor emeritus, Stanford University A plain spoken unvarnished view of education research quality and impact from the classroom and school level. Takes on a lot of academic sacred cows through a creative mixture of literature synthesis and school based experience. No education researcherwill be bored with this critique that needs to be a perspective included in policy research courses.... -- Mike Kirst, professor emeritus, Stanford University In a style that will appeal to both practitioners and scholars, Stephen Davis's book provides a forthright and sometimes controversial critique of the world of scholarly research and its impact on k-12 practice. Although some readers may disagree with his vivid portrayals of scholars and practitioners, most everyone will find the book provocative, informative, and enjoyable. This book is a must read for anyone interested in learning more about the fractured relationship between educational research and school reform. -- Dr. Barry R. Groves, superintendent, Mountain View-Los Altos (CA) Union High School District As a practitioner/scholar who knows well the different worlds of policy, practice, and research, Steve Davis tells in a lively, no-holds-barred manner the "good, bad, and ugly" of what separates K-12 practitioners from policy makers and research-driven professors. This book will both please and offend readers, depending on what world they inhabit. It is worth reading. -- Larry Cuban, professor emeritus, Stanford University A plain spoken unvarnished view of education research quality and impact from the classroom and school level. Takes on a lot of
academic sacred cows through a creative mixture of literature synthesis and school based experience. No education researcher will be bored with this critique that needs to be a perspective included in policy research courses. -- Mike Kirst, professor emeritus, Stanford University Education leaders and researchers alike will appreciate the author's insights. * School Administrator *