Barriers to Excellence

Betsy Gunzelmann is professor of psychology at Southern New Hampshire University and author of several articles involved with improving our schools. She has worked in the field for over 30 years and is a psychologist, educator, and parent concerned with issues hindering our children’s education.

• Part I: Our Broken System: Understanding Barriers to ExcellenceChapter One: There Is Trouble in Our Schools: A Historical Overview of Barriers & ImbalanceChapter Two: Rescuing Our Schools: Perspectives of Leaders, Reformers and EntrepreneursChapter Three: The Gathering of Data from Many DirectionsPart II: The Barriers to ExcellenceChapter Four: Society& Cultural: First, Most Complex and Controversial of the Barriers to ExcellenceChapter Five: Political Barriers to Excellence: Multifaceted and Difficult, but Not Impossible to ResolveChapter Six: Economic Barriers to ExcellenceChapter Seven: Psychological Barriers to Educational ExcellenceChapter Eight:EducationalIssues: Process& Logistical Barriers Part III:Towards Educational Excellence and Beyond Chapter Nine: Breaking Down the Barriers & Restoring BalanceChapter Ten: Education: Our Key to Future SuccessReferences

There is an emerging story in America about education and justice that many are willing to tell and some extraordinary few, like Betsy Gunzelmann, are able to document. The book may be appear thin, but the argument is rich, intriguingly researched, and painfully powerful. Barriers to Excellence is really a story of contemporary America. It should be widely read, here and abroad, but what is that expression: Read it and weep.