Seduction of Common Sense (Teaching for Social Justice (Paperback))

''This is one of the most thoughtful books on education I have ever read. Kevin Kumashiro condemns fear as a hallmark in our conversations about schools, and promotes instead a spirit of freedom and democracy.''
--Studs Terkel

''A brilliant and concise guide to Right-wing trends and their impact in the classroom, as well as a much-needed map for a broad Left to reframe its approach to teaching and social change. Everyone who cares about teaching and our common future must read this book!''
--Helen Zia, author of Asian American Dreams: The Emergence of an American People

Critical of both the Right and the Left, Kevin Kumashiro examines how these two political perspectives have ''framed'' the debate on education in the United States. Showing us a new way to look at this hotly contested terrain, Kumashiro offers concrete implications for policy and practice that can draw together a broader coalition on the Left to achieve social justice in education. Timely, accessible, and thoroughly researched, The Seduction of Common Sense exposes the insidious nature of current educational reforms and offers promising directions for anti-oppressive change.

Book features:

* In-depth analysis of specific ''frames'' the Right is using, successfully, to influence the general public on education's hot topics.

* An examination of how the Christian Right is institutionalizing anti-LGBTQ bias by appropriating frames from the Left.

* A look at how the rhetoric of the Left has failed to achieve its goals, especially regarding racial disparities in schools.

* Suggestions for how the Left can ''reframe'' important education initiatives in time for the 2008 presidential election.