National Differences, Global Similarities

David Baker is Professor of Education and Sociology at Pennsylvania State University, and publishes widely on comparative education, the organization of schools, and sociology. Gerald LeTendre is Associate Professor of Education Policy Studies at Pennsylvania State University, and is the author of Learning to Be Adolescent.

"TIMSS represented a quantum leap over previous cross-national surveys of education achievement. The United States and other countries wanted to provide high-quality data that could be used to compare their education systems beyond the initial "horse-race" results. Baker and LeTendre's far-ranging analyses offer clear evidence that this goal was achieved."—Laura Salganik, Director, Education Statistics Services Institute, American Institutes for Research "National Differences, Global Similarities is filled with cogen insights, counter-intuitive findings, convincing policy recommendations, and lucid predictions....Maybe Baker's and LeTendre's greatest accomplishment will be inspiring readers to think more deeply about seemingly well understood education topics."--Teachers College Record "In this collaboration with several colleagues, David Baker and Gerald LeTendre provide their readers with a lucid, thoughtful report and interpretation of several cross-national indicators....a major merit of this book is the many questions it raises, inviting exciting discussions in educational foundations classrooms." "Reading this book is like cycling through Tuscany on tree-shaded lanes—the ride is smooth, the going is easy, and the eye is repeatedly pleased by both great vistas and striking close-up views."—Contemporary Sociology

• @fmct:Contents @toc4:List of Tables and Figuresiii Prefaceiii @toc2:1.The Global Environment of National School Systems000 2.The Declining Significance of Gender and the Rise of Egalitarian Mathematics Education000 3.Symbiotic Institutions: Changing Global Dynamics Between Family and Schooling000 4.Demand for Achievement: The Worldwide Growth of Shadow Education Systems000 5.Rich Land, Poor Schools: Inequality of National Educational Resources and Achievement of Disadvantaged Students000 6.Safe Schools, Dangerous Nations: The Paradox of School Violence000 7.The Universal Math Teacher? International Beliefs, National Work Roles, and Local Practice000 8.Schoolwork at Home? Low-Quality Schooling and Homework000 9.Slouching Toward a Global Ideology: The Devolution Revolution in Education Governance000 10.Nation Versus Nation: The Race to Be the First in the World000 11.Conclusion: Observing Modern Schooling as an Institution000 @toc4:Bibliography000 Index000