Book by SOE Faculty Shares Insights, Research, on Urban Education
Faculty members of UWM’s School of Education have collaborated on a new book on urban education. "Urban Education for the 21st Century," which has 13 chapters written by scholars and educators connected to UWM’s School of Education, was recently released by publisher Charles C. Thomas.
The book, edited by Festus Obiakor, professor of exceptional education, and Floyd Beachum, assistant professor of administrative leadership, features a variety of viewpoints and research on urban education. Topics range from personnel preparation and management issues to technology in schools; from classroom violence to special needs; from building school communities to financial issues. Contributors include a cross-section of School of Education faculty, recent doctoral graduates, and graduate students from different departments as well as a professor of sociology.
"We are one of the premier urban education programs in the country," says Obiakor, "and some of our faculty members are nationally known in the field of urban education." The book, he says, gives UWM urban education scholars the opportunity to share concrete ideas and research with the broader education community.
"The vision was very broad," says Beachum. "We wanted to give guidance and direction to both pre-service education students and practitioners in schools. We also wanted to provide a balance of theory and practice."
"Professors Obiakor and Beachum deserve the thanks of educators, policymakers and concerned citizens for addressing critical issues facing urban schools," says William B. Harvey of the University of Virginia in his introduction to the book. Harvey, former dean of UWM’s School of Education, was vice president and director of the American Council on Education’s Center for the Advancement of Racial and Ethnic Equality during the writing of this book. He is now vice president of Diversity and Equity in the University of Virginia at Charlottesville.
"This book is important because it provides informed analysis and solid insights, which point us in the right direction, so that as a nation that is committed to fairness and equity, we can implement sound policies and practices in urban schools to counteract some of the omissions and shortcomings of the past," Harvey writes.
"The book has brought junior and senior faculty as well as students together across departments," says Obiakor. "I was so impressed with the spirit of collaboration as we developed the book." Beachum adds: "With our emphasis on urban education, we thought it would be beneficial to take an interdisciplinary look at some of the issues surrounding the research and practice of urban education."
The book’s contributors, like urban schools, reflect diverse cultural, racial, and language backgrounds. "It has created wonderful, positive vibes for UWM," says Obiakor.
The books contributors include: Rene Antrop-Gonzalez, assistant professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Simone Conceicao, assistant professor, Department of Administrative Leadership; Faith E. Crampton, associate professor, Department of Administrative Leadership; Dave Edyburn, associate professor, Department of Exceptional Education; Edgar Epps, professor, Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies; Christine Garza-Nelson, doctoral candidate, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Martin Haberman, distinguished professor, Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Ian Harris, professor, Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies; Pauline Harris-Obiakor, program administrative manager, Educational Opportunity Program; Amy Mizialko, recent doctoral graduate in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction; Phyllis Randall, doctoral student, Department of Educational Psychology; Marty Sapp, professor, Department of Educational Psychology; Ramel Smith, recent doctoral graduate, Department of Educational Psychology; Raji Swaminathan, assistant professor, Department of Educational Policy and Community Studies; William Velez, professor, Department of Sociology; Randall S. Vesely, recent doctoral graduate, Department of Administrative Leadership; and Yaoying Xu, assistant professor, Department of Exceptional Education. Obiakor and Beachum also contributed chapters to the book.
URL: http://www.uwm.edu/News/Features/06.02/Urban_Ed_Book.html
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