Books about Educational Equity by The Equity Collaborative

More Than a Mentoring Program:

Attacking Institutional Racism

by Graig Meyer and George Noblit

Books about Educational Equity, More Than a Mentoring Program: Attacking Institutional RacismIn striving to reduce racial achievement gaps, schools and youth development programs are increasingly turning to youth mentoring programs. But how to ensure success? Here, accomplished educators Graig Meyer and George Noblit reveal how one such program challenged institutional racism and eliminated persistent achievement disparities in a local school system that boasts a national reputation for excellence. The authors share personal lessons, strategic guidance, and detailed practical advice for education and community leaders seeking to create successful youth mentoring programs. Their story, backed by research, offers real-world perspective on the important work of challenging systemic racism in schools. Meyer and Noblit demonstrate how mentoring and advocacy come together in a strengths-based program that boosts academic success and post-secondary enrollment for youth of color, while also creating change to benefit all students in a school system.

Find the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Information Age Publishing, or ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

“As a former K–12 administrator, this book provides a framework of hope in addressing some fundamental root causes of achievement gaps within marginalized student groups. Talking about racism is uncomfortable and one that most educators would rather ignore and not discuss so it will just go away. This mentality of if we don’t discuss it then it must not exist. The book More Than a Mentoring Program: Attacking Institutional Racism forces the reader to realize that refusing to address policies and procedures that perpetuate systemic racism is the problem.”

—Reviewed By Aneta H. Walker, University of West Florida

A Walk in Their Kicks:

Literacy, Identity, and the Schooling of Young Black Males

by Aaron Johnson

Books about Educational Equity, A Walk in Their Kicks: Literacy, Identity, and the Schooling of Young Black Males

This compelling book provides a deep examination of the experience of African American males in schools. Moving beyond basic notions of culturally relevant instruction, A Walk in Their Kicks offers new understandings that will assist educators in developing instruction that respects these young men and fosters their participation and success.

Readers will explore the impact that trauma has on the lives of African American students, examine their own perceptions of these students to help them make more appropriate text selections and instructional decisions, and identify the conditions that need to be present to engage African American male students in literacy. Chapters end with “What Teachers Can Do Right Now” and “What Administrators Can Do Right Now,” sections that provide easy-to-implement, practical strategies.

The author believes that literacy gave him a future as an African American male and, at the same time, recalls school friends who never got that chance. He calls for educators to transform schools into environments that are free of negative assumptions about African American males and provides recommendations for engaging in this work.

Book Features:

  • A brief history of schooling in the United States, particularly as it relates to African American children.
  • A powerful framework for engaging African American males in school-based literacy.
  • Recommendations to help teachers plan lessons, build equitable classroom environments, and foster positive relationships with all students.
  • Recommendations to help administrators build school-wide affinity groups, implement and change policy, and plan alongside their teaching staff.

Find the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Teachers College Press, or ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

“A Walk in Their Kicks is a powerful book that is sure to open the eyes and hearts of many teachers. . . . Read Dr. Aaron Johnson’s book if you want to learn not only about systemic racial and economic oppression, but also about ways that educators can counter such oppression through everyday practice.”

—From the Foreword by Elizabeth Birr Moje, University of Michigan

Preventing Violence and Crime in America’s Schools:

From Put-Downs to Lock-Downs

by Danya Perry and William Lassiter

Books about Educational Equity, Preventing Violence in America's Schools: From Put-Downs to Lock-Downs

Although it is major incidents like Columbine or Virginia Tech that grab the headlines, everyday occurrences of bullying, harassment, and physical intimidation in schools impact entire communities, driving kids out of public schools and destroying faith in public education. Preventing Violence and Crime in America’s Schools: From Put-Downs to Lock-Downs provides educators, parents, law enforcement officials, and other youth-serving professionals with a unique perspective on the topic of school violence. More important, it offers solutions to the problems facing all schools when it comes to violence and safety.

Two expert authors examine specifics relating to school violence, opportunities to prevent and intervene, and the importance of planning for a crisis. Most other books about school violence either highlight the research or highlight practitioner viewpoints. This revealing book presents both, balancing insights gained through real-world experiences with research on best practices. The result is a fuller understanding of the problem—understanding that will enable solutions.

Find the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Praeger Publishers, or ask for it at your local independent bookstore.

“This guide to school violence prevention is designed for educators, parents and law enforcement officials who need a balance of practitioner viewpoints and research to assess best practices. Lassiter (manager, Center for the Prevention of School Violence, North Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention) and Perry, an educational consultant, address everyday violence in schools such as bullying, harassment and intimidation and highlight the role of support personnel in preventing an escalation into more destructive and tragic incidents. A section also uses firsthand accounts to dispel common myths about school violence.”

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