Reality and Education serves as a handy primer for sorting out what is important in education policy. Wentland argues that the purpose of pre-collegiate education is simply learning, not solving an array of societal problems. Learning is elicited by effective teachers who provide clear explanations of what children should learn, what is considered an acceptable quality or level of performance, opportunities for practice and regular feedback, and an explicit understanding of the conditions under which this learning should take place. Teachers are also responsible for conveying to students that successful learning results from effort, time, and persistence. The author emphasizes that, ultimately, students are responsible for their learning. This point varies from current policy, which places full responsibility on teachers for student acquisition of knowledge....The arguments are persuasive and this book is recommended to readers wishing to fully examine the complexities of education policy. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduate, graduate, research, and professional collections.

Choice Reviews

In this pithy volume, Daniel Wentland surveys the landscape of K-12 education and illuminates a number of important truths. This volume is a useful guide for those seeking to understand our educational challenges.

Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute

Daniel Wentland’s book is an excellent analysis of the learning environment and where and how it lets us down. His prescription for fixing it is reasonable and practical, and one that is bound to make educators eager and enthusiastic to take a good second look at the system and make it more enriching and responsive.

Stephen Bernhut, editor, Ivey Business Journal

The shelves in book stores are weighed down with 'fix-it books', many of which provide opinions more often than solutions to fix the problems in our education system. In Reality and Education, Dr. Wentland offers a no-frills, common sense solution to improving education leadership, school culture and student achievement. This is definitely an approach that will make educators stand up and take notice!

Dr. Susan P. Lee, Associate Commissioner for Academic and Student Affairs, Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning