The Fight for Local Control: Schools, Suburbs, and American Democracy
Schools Suburbs Democracy: The Fight for Local Control examines how rural and suburban communities shaped American school politics after World War II. Campbell F. Scribner traces local autonomy debates through school consolidation, busing, teachers' unions, taxation, curriculum, vouchers, and standardized testing, while considering consequences for educational equality and democratic participation.
At a glance
- Follows school district local-control conflicts across the decades after World War II.
- Connects the history of rural school consolidation with suburban political campaigns.
- Covers disputes over busing, teachers' unions, taxes, curriculum, vouchers, and standardized testing.
- Considers how local autonomy, school choice, and accountability policies affected educational equality and participation.
Reference price: $47.95
Price checked: Nov 14, 2026
View offerAhead of Black FridayExplore the selectionPros and cons
Pros
- The description identifies a clear historical arc from rural-school consolidation through later suburban policy debates.
- Its focus brings education policy, local democracy, and inequality together in one historical account.
Technical specifications
9 specifications| Publisher | Cornell University Press |
|---|---|
| Publication date | June 7, 2016 |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 256 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 1501700804 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1501700804 |
| Reading age | 18 years and up |
| Dimensions | 6.25 x 1 x 9.5 inches |
|---|---|
| Weight listed | 1.06 pounds |
Who is it for?
A good fit for
- Readers researching American education policy and school governance.
- Those interested in the history of suburbs, local politics, and educational inequality.
- Students or general readers seeking a historical account of school-choice and accountability debates.
Less suited to
- Readers looking primarily for a current guide to school policy or a practical handbook for school boards.
Customer reviews on Amazon
- 5 stars
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The listing provides aggregate ratings but no customer-comment summary. The small rating sample leans toward the higher star categories, but it cannot establish why readers rated the book as they did or how broadly those impressions apply.
Frequently asked questions
What is The Fight for Local Control about?
Campbell F. Scribner's book examines how rural and suburban communities contested local authority over public schools, and how those debates changed educational law and policy.
Which school-policy issues does the book cover?
The description mentions school consolidation, race-based busing, teachers' unions, tax equalization and limitation, secular curriculum, vouchers, religious exemptions, and standardized testing.
What publication details are listed?
The listing gives Cornell University Press as publisher, a June 7, 2016 publication date, English as the language, and 256 pages.
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