The Truth About Testing: An Educators Call to Action, by W. James Popham. (Alexandria VA: ASCD, 2001). 160 pp. $23.95. A clear explanation by noted educator and writer of the absurdity and the serious destructive consequences of today's testing programs. He uses actual items from current standardized tests to show what the tests really measure and why they should never be used to evaluate school quality or teacher ability.
*The Skin That We Speak: Thoughts on Language and Culture in the Classroom, edited by Lisa Delpit and Joanne Kilgour Dowdy. (New York: The New Press, 2002). 240 pp. $25. A cutting-edge book that delves into how many "Englishes" are spoken - African-American, Caribbean-American, Appalachian, among others - and the layers of politics, power and identity they carry. Includes essays by Herbert Kohl, Gloria Ladson-Billings, Asa Hilliard, and Geneva Smitherman.
*Race, Class, and Gender in the United States: An Integrated Study, edited by Paula S. Rothenberg. (Worth Publishers, new edition 2001). 674 pp. $40. Filled with insightful essays and stories, this book emphasizes how race, class and gender intersect to create an impact on just about every aspect of life in U.S. society. Includes additional material on white skin privilege and recent immigration history.
The Land, by Mildred Taylor. (New York: Phyllis Fogelman Books, 2001). 373 pp. $17.99 hdbk. A prequel to the Newbery Medal Winner Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. A moving story of how the post-Civil War Logan family got its start as the grandfather of Cassie Logan battles white supremacy and the legacy of the slavery-based land tenure system. Great for literature circles and social studies. Middle school / up.
The No-Nonsense Guide to International Migration, Peter Stalker. (London: Verso Press and the New Internationalist, 2001). 144 pp. $10. Like other books in the No-Nonsense series this informative handbook is packed with facts, graphs, and essays that help teachers and student understand the economic and social issues behind migration.