The Politics of School/Community Relations

Transcending a "how-to" level of analysis, the authors study the tested dissatisfaction theory of democracy as it applies to a new arena, presenting case studies of school boards and their internal politics. This book examines how the politics of education impacts on school/community relations - it is theoretically based, but includes practical case studies and implications for the practitioner. The book begins with a history of education and community participation in school governance. The authors examine the current rapid rate of social change and increasing diversity, and suggest ways that school leaders can build closer connections to their communities by employing the dissatisfaction theory for social change. This book urges school leaders to develop systems that can be responsive to citizen demands in order to avoid serious political turmoil and restore the community to its proper role in democratic school governance. This book should attract administrators in the elementary and secondary levels, and proves of interest to students as a main text in graduate and undergraduate courses in the politics of education and school/community relations.
It is also appropriate as a supplemental text in courses in educational administration, foundations of education, education reform, and the history of education.