Troubled Crusade: American Education, 1945-1980 Book

This is a long and serious look at education - the history of elementary schools to prestigious colleges. It was well-written - if it had been dry, I would have quit reading long before I got to the end. It was simply too long to slog through while being bored to tears. But on the other hand, it was dense enough that I had to read it only during my lunch break at work. Otherwise, it got overwhelming.

If you're an education major or someone heavily involved in education, and you want an unbiased look at the history of education in America, this is the book for you. Ravitch is even-handed in her treatment of most sensitive "political" topics, and I had more than a few "Oh, I see" moments, as she explained why we got to where we are today. Considering I wasn't born until 1981, I've never known anything different, so I found it fascinating to see how we wound our way here.

However, it is obviously dated - the book basically stops in 1980. The last 30 years of education are not covered. I'm guessing that more current books by Ravitch will fill in the pieces gaps in history. I look forward to reading more of her books.