Dan Goldhaber and Jane Hannaway, eds.
Urban Institute Press
2009
Amidst a plethora of teacher quality literature, this book is not earth-shattering. But, featuring chapters from an onslaught of education reformers and economists (think Eric Hanushek, Paul Hill, and Frederick M. Hess), it leaves no human capital stone unturned, making it a good one-stop-shop for those interested in reforming teaching. It is divided into three sections: the current state of human capital in the context of teacher quality trends over time, shifts in private sector recruitment and selection, and other countries' attempts to improve teacher quality; how to reform technology, pensions, performance pay, and professional development in light of these current trends; and the responses to these reform suggestions of an ed school dean (David Monk), a big city superintendent (Joel Klein), a teacher union boss (Randi Weingarten), and a policy wonk (Andy Rotherham). This third section is perhaps the most interesting; its four authors were asked to read parts I and II and respond from both the perspective of their fields and the political feasibility of the reform solutions offered. Though Klein and Weingarten treat their respective chapters as bully pulpits for their agendae, Monk and Rotherham offer notable insight into, in particular, section II’s possible political hurdles. Buy it here.
