Charter Schools and Their Enemies

By: Thomas Sowell

Narrated by: Brad Sanders

Winner of the 2021 Hayek Book Prize

A leading conservative intellectual defends charter schools against the teachers' unions, politicians, and liberal educators who threaten to dismantle their success. The black-white educational achievement gap -- so much discussed for so many years -- has already been closed by black students attending New York City's charter schools. This might be expected to be welcome news. But it has been very unwelcome news in traditional public schools whose students are transferring to charter schools. A backlash against charter schools has been led by teachers unions, politicians and others -- not only in New York but across the country. If those attacks succeed, the biggest losers will be minority youngsters for whom a quality education is their biggest chance for a better life.

Critic reviews

"A methodologically rigorous, closely argued, data-driven case for charter schools...Thomas Sowell is a national treasure in a nation that does not entirely deserve him."—National Review

Well Written Explanation

Sowell does it again with an amazing explanation on the relationship of teacher unions and the politicians who are supported by them to the anguish of charter schools.

Well researched

Excellent overview of how the school system became so dysfunctional. Lots of great insights in this book. Great narrator.

This book was very informative...

The reason for this understanding is to help me decide if I should pull my grandchildren from private school...geez I better keep them away from this mess...private school a must!!

Phenomenal as always.

I thought I knew a lot about this subject but I did not. It is amazing to see the campaign to hinder the education in this country. The narrator does a superb job as well. I highly recommend this book.

Data Rich, dance thoughts

The opening the book begins with significant amounts of data and interpretation of that data. Comparisons to other studies is frequent.
Lots of comparative analysis with other trends, pro and con, to other industries and movements through it our history. The summary gives a stiff warning and appears to truly support the advancement of education of our children.
Very well read performance and it must’ve been a challenge to do so.