Early and recent school reformers demanded greater funding. They insisted that they needed it to protect children, the economy, and the nation. This book uses the case method to analyze the budgets that they proposed, the rhetoric that they employed, and the resistance that they encountered.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface: How Much Does Education Cost? Chapter 2 Acknowledgement Chapter 3 Introduction: Are Zombies Stalking Schools? Chapter 4 Chapter 1: Do Razors Belong at School? Chapter 5 Chapter 2: Can School Reform Be Marketed? Chapter 6 Chapter 3: Should Schools Buy E-textbooks? Chapter 7 Chapter 4: How Much Should Teachers Be Paid? Chapter 8 Chapter 5: What Can Be Done With Negligible Funds? Chapter 9 Chapter 6: Should Educators Worry About Diminishing Returns? Chapter 10 Chapter 7: What Drives Innovators? Chapter 11 Chapter 8: Should Schools Change Their Labor Practices? Chapter 12 Chapter 9: Can Redundant Spending Be Worthwhile? Chapter 13 Chapter 10: Is Educational Lobbying Amoral? Chapter 14 Chapter 11: Do Teachers Need Special Protection?

About the Author

Gerard Giordano is professor at the University of North Florida and has written twelve books about education. His last three books, which were published by Rowman & Littlefield Education, focused on the case method.

Reviews

Dr. Giordano's book is a refreshing island in a sea stirred by electronic media and social networking. It uses problems outside of education as lenses through which to view today's fractured educational environment. It not only analyzes problems but teases out solutions that are based on practical experiences and realistic goals rather than media hype. -- Michael J. Johnson Is it possible to be a frugal-minded citizen and an uncompromising education activist? Capping Costs helps us grapple with this paradox. It also provides an answer-an affirming 'Yes!' -- Jennifer Ancelin This refreshing, unique, and thought-provoking book strikes a chord that resonates within the natural ecologies of schools and classrooms. It is an essential addition to the methodological toolkits of research-focused educators. It demonstrates how they can use the case method to highlight school problems, analyze contrasting arguments, and then make decisions about optimal solutions. -- Stan Scarpati