{"product_id":"trust-in-schools-a-core-resource-for-improvement-american-sociological-associations-rose-series","title":"Trust in Schools: A Core Resource for Improvement (American Sociological Association's Rose Series)","description":"\u003cp\u003eMost Americans agree on the necessity of education reform  but there is little consensus about how this goal might be achieved. The rhetoric of standards and vouchers has occupied center stage  polarizing public opinion and affording little room for reflection on the intangible conditions that make for good schools. Trust in Schools engages this debate with a compelling examination of the importance of social relationships in the successful implementation of school reform. Over the course of three years  Bryk and Schneider  together with a diverse team of other researchers and school practitioners  studied reform in twelve Chicago elementary schools. Each school was undergoing extensive reorganization in response to the Chicago School Reform Act of 1988  which called for greater involvement of parents and local community leaders in their neighborhood schools. Drawing on years longitudinal survey and achievement data  as well as in-depth interviews with principals  teachers  parents  and local community leaders  the authors develop a thorough account of how effective social relationshipswhich they term relational trustcan serve as a prime resource for school improvement. Using case studies of the network of relationships that make up the school community  Bryk and Schneider examine how the myriad social exchanges that make up daily life in a school community generate  or fail to generate  a successful educational environment. The personal dynamics among teachers  students  and their parents  for example  influence whether students regularly attend school and sustain their efforts in the difficult task of learning. In schools characterized by high relational trust  educators were more likely to experiment with new practices and work together with parents to advance improvements. As a result  these schools were also more likely to demonstrate marked gains in student learning. In contrast  schools with weak trust relations saw virtually no improvement in their reading or mathematics scores. Trust in Schools demonstrates convincingly that the quality of social relationships operating in and around schools is central to their functioning  and strongly predicts positive student outcomes. This book offer insights into how trust can be built and sustained in school communities  and identifies some features of public school systems that can impede such development. Bryk and Schneider show how a broad base of trust across a school community can provide a critical resource as education professional and parents embark on major school reforms. A Volume in the American Sociological Associations Rose Series in Sociology\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44964526260277,"sku":"ByrdShop_0871541920","price":30.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780871541925.jpg?v=1770464678","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/trust-in-schools-a-core-resource-for-improvement-american-sociological-associations-rose-series","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}