RICHARD ROTHSTEIN     Thursday, June 30     Fixing Our Schools: The Ins and Outs of America's Most Crucial Policy Debate

The Summer Conversations series will kick off its season with former New York Times national education columnist Richard Rothstein who will share his expertise on the longtime struggle to improve our schools. Currently serving as a research analyst with the Economic Policy Institute, a think tank in Washington, DC, Rothstein has written numerous books and articles on the topic.

His 2008 book, GRADING EDUCATION, describes a new kind of accountability plan for public education, one that relies on higher-quality testing, focuses on professional evaluation, and builds on capacities we already possess. It argues that instead of just grading progress in one or two narrow subjects, we should hold schools accountable for the broad outcomes we expect from public education -- basic knowledge and skills, critical thinking, an appreciation of the arts, physical and emotional health, and preparation for skilled employment -- and then develop the means to measure and ensure schools' success in achieving them.

Critics said the book, "puts forth the most comprehensive analysis and set of reform proposals to date. It should be required reading for everyone on Capitol Hill and in state capitols as well,'' and, ''A superb and provocative analysis of where we've gone wrong on accountability and what we need to do to fix it. The book is a must-read for those seeking answers for reducing our nation's tragic achievement disparities.''

He is also the author of CLASS AND SCHOOLS about closing the Black-White achievement gap, and numerous other papers and articles. Rothstein will speak for 30 - 40 minutes and then take questions, followed by an informal book signing.

GRADING EDUCATION and other books are available at Baker Books.

Upcoming Speakers:

Conor Grennan  Thursday July 14, 7PM Little Princes: One Man's Promise to Bring Home the Lost Children of Nepal

Author and activist Conor Grenan shares his amazing tale of risking his life to reunite "orphaned" children with their families in the backcountry of Nepal.

Camilla Rockwell Thursday August 4, 7 PM Mother Nature's Child: Growing Children in the Media Age 

PBS Filmmaker Camilla Rockwell will discuss her fascinating film on the perils of losing natural playtime in childhood development.

Melissa Coleman Thursday August 11, 7PM This Life is in Your Hands: One Dream, Sixty Acres, and a Family Undone

Author and Westpor summer resident Melissa Coleman presents her memoir about growing up in the beauty and hardship of an experimental organic farm on the coast of Maine at the center of Helen and Scott Nearing's Back to the Land movement.