Doing School : How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed-Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students

This book offers a revealing-and troubling-view of today's high school students and the ways they pursue high grades and success. Veteran teacher Denise Pope follows five highly regarded students through a school year and discovers that these young people believe getting ahead requires manipulating the system, scheming, lying, and cheating. On the one hand, they work hard in school, participate in extracurricular activities, serve their communities, earn awards and honors, and appear to uphold school values. But on the other hand, they feel that in order to get ahead they must compromise their values. In short, they "do school"-that is, they are not really engaged with learning nor can they commit to such values as integrity and community.