''Real Education: Four Simple Truths for Bringing America's Schools Back to Reality'' is a 2008 book by
Charles Murray.
[ He wrote the book to challenge the "Educational romanticism ]hich
Ij () is a village in Golabar Rural District of the Central District in Ijrud County, Zanjan province, Iran
Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq ...
asks too much from students at the bottom of the intellectual pile, asks the wrong things from those in the middle, and asks too little from those at the top."
Murray claims that there are "four simple truths" about education:
# "Ability varies."
# "Half of the children are below average."
# "Too many people are going to college."
# "America's future depends on how we educate the academically gifted."
Critic Michael J. Feuer, writing in ''Issues in Science and Technology
''Issues in Science and Technology'' is a policy journal published by the United States National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and Arizona State University. The journal is a forum for discussion of public policy related to s ...
'', in addition to Murray's "four simple truths", sees "an equally simplistic proposal:... hat
A hat is a Headgear, head covering which is worn for various reasons, including protection against weather conditions, ceremonial reasons such as university graduation, religious reasons, safety, or as a fashion accessory. Hats which incorpor ...
privatization will fix the schools."
When ''New York Times
''The New York Times'' (''NYT'') is an American daily newspaper based in New York City. ''The New York Times'' covers domestic, national, and international news, and publishes opinion pieces, investigative reports, and reviews. As one of ...
'' interviewer Deborah Solomon
Deborah Solomon (born August 9, 1957) is an American art critic, journalist and biographer. She writes for ''The New York Times'', where she was previously a columnist. Her weekly column, "Questions For" ran in ''The New York Times Magazine'' fr ...
said, "I believe that given the opportunity, most people could do most anything," Murray responded, "You're out of touch with reality in that regard."
''Times'' critic Charles McGrath defends the current educational system:
President of St. John's College, Annapolis, Christopher B. Nelson, in what he called his "version of educational romanticism," agreed with some of Murray's premises but challenged his conclusions:
See also
* '' Academically Adrift''
* '' In the Basement of the Ivory Tower''
* UnCollege
References
External links
*
* {{cite web, author=Ken Seifert , url=http://www.andovertownsman.com/education/x108201446/Seifert-column-Not-everyone-needs-a-college-degree , title=Seifert column: Not everyone needs a college degree » Education » Andover Townsman, Andover, MA , publisher=Andovertownsman.com , date= , accessdate=2011-05-29
2008 non-fiction books
Books by Charles Murray
Books about education
Race and education in the United States
Race and intelligence controversy