The book, 'Leaving School: Finding Education' comprehensively explains how American schools have failed to make the transition to the new technological age of the 21st Century. As America enters this new millennium, parents, educators and even politicians are seeking a way out of the fiscal burdens and performance failures that characterize America's schools.

'Leaving School: Finding Education' is a candid account of a national scandal and is unique in proposing to reform education by leaving the outdated places we call schools. The ideas discussed promise to be invigorating to readers on both side of the political aisle. This "must read" will be a breath of fresh air for those who are frustrated with traditional schools.

A scenario is provided to illustrate how e-learning could replace the traditional schooling experience. Learning portals for all Americans are proposed and real examples from existing Internet resources are provided. The entry of business into truly functional education is portrayed.

Excerpts from the book:

"Schools are now in a dysfunctional state...The time has arrived for the United States to think seriously about bidding farewell to its schools... they are a relic from another age...The school is responsible for increasing amounts of cultural decay and social dysfunction in our society... Schools have no hope of reforming themselves. There has been no lasting change in half a century. Schools cannot and will not change... Schools are resistant to changing; they have always been this way... Parents should be both frightened and outraged at this lack of relevance and this leadership incompetence... Schools are the largest impeding force in our nation... Schools are beginning to pull other institutional agencies downward...This is an institution, your authors believe, in its final days...An alternative must be found quickly. What we believe, after very full careers in schools as teachers, administrators, and curriculum leaders, is that defining any improvement in the school will be both a futile exercise and a self defeating proposition... The American school cannot be fixed...We believe the United States must seriously explore abandoning the school as the vessel of learning and move to redefine education in terms of other options. We believe that a failure to break away, soon, will result in a surprising rapid deterioration of the institution, and the even further decline in the general culture of the United States...America can shed its final monopoly...We currently have all of the technology needed to provide a quality education to all students in the comfort and safety of their own homes... the authors believe we are poised, unknowingly, on the brink of a major change in education in the United States. Our schools while imposing in scale, are precariously fragile in reality. Any coalition of parents, taxpayers, businessmen, and concerned educators has the power to influence the most significant change in American education. The question is, What are we waiting for?'"

The authors also discuss the history of education, the unsustainable increasing cost of the public school system, the impossibility of significantly changing public schools and alternative forms of education.

Veteran educator Dr. Jon Wiles, has written a dozen texts in the area of educational leadership.He has worked as a consultant specializing in curriculum change in 40 states and 10 foreign nations. Dr. Wiles served as Professor of Education at the University of North Florida before his retirement.

Coauthor Dr. John Lundt spent the first half of his career as a teacher and administrator in public secondary schools and for the past 15 years he has served as Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Montana where he teaches courses in curriculum leadership and futurism. Dr. Lundt has consulted with educational agencies in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East as well as in Canada and the United States. To obtain a copy of the book contact rd@wb4m3.com

Published October 22, 2008