Our Children’s Health v. Public Education in 21st Century America

Authors

  • Douglas Selwyn State University of New York, Plattsburgh

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14288/ce.v11i4.186561

Keywords:

health, children's health, schooling, aims of education, racism, inequality, sexism, democratic education, corporate capitalism, public education, social justice, schools in community, whole child, high stakes testing, student centered learning, inclusive education, purpose of schools, school leadership, democracy

Abstract

What would schools and communities look like if the health and well-being of all our children were our highest priorities? More important than test scores, profits, or real estate values? What actions would we take if we wanted to guarantee that all our children were growing up with what they needed to be healthy, happy, and successful—and not just some of them? The United States was once among the healthiest countries in the world. As of now, it is ranked no better than twenty-ninth. Those who bear the brunt of our worsening health are the poor, people of color, and, most of all, our children. This special report situates our ongoing health crisis within the larger picture of inequality and the complex interplay of systems in the U.S. based on class, privilege, racism, sexism, and the ongoing tension between the ideals of democracy and the realities of corporate capitalism. Public education is caught in the middle of those tensions.

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Published

2020-01-06

Issue

Section

Special Report