Generally speaking, people in North America have great faith in their public schools. Unfortunately, somewhat disillusioned with educational trends, parents are withdrawing their children on grounds that school services can be offered more effectively elsewhere. Annually in Canada and the United States, thousands of children are removed from public schools by their parents on the grounds that the system is no longer delivering the goods. Private school enrollments are again rising, home schooling is burgeoning and charter schools are being hailed as an innovative solution to the educational ills of the 21st century.

This book examines the history of public schools, underscoring the tremendous costs at which our public system of education came into being. A series of threatening alternatives to public schooling are examined, showing the deficiencies of each when compared to state-sponsored systems. The authors argue that public schools are not in need of repair; they are not in need of criticism; they do not need to be dismantled. They are simply in need of support.

John W. Friesen, PhD, DMin, is a professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Calgary, where he conducts research in Aboriginal education and teacher training. An ordained clergyman with the All Native Circle Conference of the United Church of Canada, he has authored or co-authored more than 50 books.

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Virginia Lyons Friesen, PhD, is a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Communication and Culture at the University of Calgary and a frequent instructor at Old Sun College in Siksika, Alberta. She has co-presented a number of papers at academic conferences and has co-authored several books.

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