In Badges and Incidents, Michael J. Kaufman undertakes an interdisciplinary investigation of American education law and pedagogy. By weaving together the invaluable insights of law, education, history, political science, economics, psychology, and neuroscience, this book illuminates the ways in which the design of the American educational system does not reflect how human beings live and learn. It examines the principles of the nation's Founders and demonstrates how a distorted presentation of the Founders' views curtailed the development of a truly democratic educational system. The influence of this distortion on several critical Supreme Court decisions is exposed, and these decisions have largely failed to facilitate the educational system the Founders envisioned. By placing contemporary challenges in context and endorsing social constructivist pedagogy as the best path forward, Kaufman's study will prove invaluable to advocates of equity in education, helping them navigate a contentious political climate with an eye toward future reform efforts.

Winner, 2020 Choice Outstanding Academic Title

‘Kaufman’s extensive quotations from philosophical and historical sources are this slim volume's central strength. These foundational groundings in educational theory and philosophy qualify Badges and Incidents as a sine qua non for graduate classes in US educational history. General readers interested in the history of civil rights will also find this text appealing.’

J. H. O'Donnell III Source: Choice