Few subjects engender more strongly held beliefs and contrary views than education. The outcomes of debates over education and educational reform impact all citizens. Media coverage of these controversies is sometimes shallow and one-sided, fostering the need to develop critical thinking skills. These skills in turn open opportunities for personal growth, joining the public debate, and helping others participate in critical discussions.
The authors of Critical Issues in Education present two opposing positions for each of sixteen different hot-button issues, including multiculturalism, school finance, charter schools, teacher evaluation, cyberbullying, and gender equity. Prospective teachers will find the authors' approach eye-opening and stimulating. Ideally, they will teach these valuable skills to their students, who will prosper academically and personally from understanding and considering diverse viewpoints.