Doug Selwyn has been an educator for more than thirty years, the first half as a teacher in K–12 in the Seattle Public Schools and the second half in teacher education, first at Antioch University Seattle and then for ten years as a professor of education at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh until his retirement in 2017. He received his doctorate from Seattle University in 1991 and was named Washington State social studies teacher of the year in 1990–91. He has published several books on education, most recently Following the Threads (Peter Lang, 2009). He lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, writer Jan Maher.

“As a 4th grade teacher for 13 years, my colleagues and I often feel isolated and overwhelmed trying to mitigate all the challenges students face that impact their well-being, which obviously impacts their success in school as well. I am so grateful for this book that highlights with empowering clarity the context within which our schools and students are situated. An unfortunate reality is that far too many educators and parents have given up trying to understand or change the determinants of our students’ health and well-being that exist beyond the classroom (environmental, economic, cultural factors), but Doug Selwyn reminds us what is obvious and common sense: education does not exist in a vacuum. Ignoring the context beyond the classroom is not an option for the long-term well-being and success of our students—and ultimately our society. I am invigorated to organize and resist against the test-crazed, one-size-fits-all approach to schooling and fight for what matters most to us: a healthy community that honors our relationships and supports the common good.”—Marian Wagner, Teacher in Seattle Public Schools

• Acknowledgements – Introduction – Defining Health – Inequality – Chronic Stress – Environmental Factors – Corporate Capitalism v. Democracy and the Common Good – The Purpose of Education – High Stakes Standardized Testing – Denying Our Children – What Can Schools Do? – It Takes a Village to Change a Village – Conclusion: What Will We Do? – Index.

Doug Selwyn has been an educator for more than thirty years, the first half as a teacher in K–12 in the Seattle Public Schools and the second half in teacher education, first at Antioch University Seattle and then for ten years as a professor of education at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh until his retirement in 2017. He received his doctorate from Seattle University in 1991 and was named Washington State social studies teacher of the year in 1990–91. He has published several books on education, most recently Following the Threads (Peter Lang, 2009). He lives in Greenfield, Massachusetts, with his wife, writer Jan Maher.

“As a 4th grade teacher for 13 years, my colleagues and I often feel isolated and overwhelmed trying to mitigate all the challenges students face that impact their well-being, which obviously impacts their success in school as well. I am so grateful for this book that highlights with empowering clarity the context within which our schools and students are situated. An unfortunate reality is that far too many educators and parents have given up trying to understand or change the determinants of our students’ health and well-being that exist beyond the classroom (environmental, economic, cultural factors), but Doug Selwyn reminds us what is obvious and common sense: education does not exist in a vacuum. Ignoring the context beyond the classroom is not an option for the long-term well-being and success of our students—and ultimately our society. I am invigorated to organize and resist against the test-crazed, one-size-fits-all approach to schooling and fight for what matters most to us: a healthy community that honors our relationships and supports the common good.”—Marian Wagner, Teacher in Seattle Public Schools

• Acknowledgements – Introduction – Defining Health – Inequality – Chronic Stress – Environmental Factors – Corporate Capitalism v. Democracy and the Common Good – The Purpose of Education – High Stakes Standardized Testing – Denying Our Children – What Can Schools Do? – It Takes a Village to Change a Village – Conclusion: What Will We Do? – Index.