Urban Schools in Historical Perspective

Why did urban schools, widely viewed as the best in the nation in the early twentieth century, become a "problem" to be solved by its end? How have urban schools been shaped by social, economic, and political transformations in cities and by other public policies? How have urban schools changed over time? This course will ask these and other questions to explore how historical perspective can help us better understand urban schools today. We will analyze the impact of changes in demographics, urban renewal and suburban development, the political economy of cities, educational expectations, and demands for equity.