The War Against Excellence: The Rising Tide of Mediocrity in America's Middle Schools

“Cheri Yecke is one of the nation’s most principled and effective education advocates. Her observations clearly explain and rightfully condemn the minimal expectation philosophy which has robbed so many children–regardless of their gifts–of their potential.”-Lisa Graham Keegan CEO, Education Leaders Council

“Cheri Yecke offers a chilling yet accurate account of how an army of elite educators can successfully manufacture an adolescent crisis that resulted in the flawed middle school concept. That concept, by every measure, has failed our students and shortchanged their abilities.”-Jeanne Allen President, Center for Education Reform

“Cheri Yecke’s War Against Gifted Children illustrates a vital but poorly understood aspect of education policy making: educational improvement campaigns are often infused with social engineering motives. Dr. Yecke does an extraordinary job of documenting how the American Middle School Movement has become just such a campaign.”-Dr. John E. Stone President, Education Consumers ClearingHouse & Consultants Network

“This lucid and passionate book does two great services for today’s education policy debates. It shows–and explains–the extent to which American education has shamelessly turned ‘giftedness’ from a blessing and asset into an embarrassing mark of ‘elitism.’ And it begins the overdue task of unmasking the ‘middle school’ for what it has all too often become: not an educational institution where children learn important skills and knowledge but a social engineering vehicle that attends endlessly to dogma and dreamy notions while teaching very little.”-Chester E. Finn Jr. President, Thomas B. Fordham Foundation

“[W]ell-researched and documented. The author makes the case for gifted education with insight, data, and logic, and asks the reader to consider each premise and to draw a conclusion about the current middle school curriculum. The book stimulates the reader to ponder situations, to reflect upon the data offered, and to read interesting anecdotal quotes from parents and students. This information raises important questions about how to design middle school instruction to benefit all students, but in particular, the gifted student.”-Catholic Education

?[A]rgues that U.S. middle-schoolers and the nation itself have been shortchanged by “forced egalitarianism” that improperly lumps children of all abilities in classroom where dumbed-down curriculum is taught.?-Star Tribune

?[P]rovide extensive citations that might be useful to scholars of the contemporary middle school movement….some interesting implications for middle schools in the 21st century.?-Choice

?[W]ell-researched and documented. The author makes the case for gifted education with insight, data, and logic, and asks the reader to consider each premise and to draw a conclusion about the current middle school curriculum. The book stimulates the reader to ponder situations, to reflect upon the data offered, and to read interesting anecdotal quotes from parents and students. This information raises important questions about how to design middle school instruction to benefit all students, but in particular, the gifted student.?-Catholic Education

?Her many Virginia fans will love this book. Many education insiders will hate it. But it’s hard to see how they can quibble with the depth of her research, even if they object to her conclusions.?-Richmond Times-Dispatch

“ÝA¨rgues that U.S. middle-schoolers and the nation itself have been shortchanged by “forced egalitarianism” that improperly lumps children of all abilities in classroom where dumbed-down curriculum is taught.”-Star Tribune

“ÝP¨rovide extensive citations that might be useful to scholars of the contemporary middle school movement….some interesting implications for middle schools in the 21st century.”-Choice

“[P]rovide extensive citations that might be useful to scholars of the contemporary middle school movement….some interesting implications for middle schools in the 21st century.”-Choice

“Her many Virginia fans will love this book. Many education insiders will hate it. But it’s hard to see how they can quibble with the depth of her research, even if they object to her conclusions.”-Richmond Times-Dispatch

“[A]rgues that U.S. middle-schoolers and the nation itself have been shortchanged by “forced egalitarianism” that improperly lumps children of all abilities in classroom where dumbed-down curriculum is taught.”-Star Tribune