Dr. Ann W. Davis

Educational Leadership and Cultural Foundations

Clinical Associate Professor, 2016

Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis
by Robert D. Putnam

Robert Putnam (2015) paints a compelling picture on the demise of the American Dream in his bestseller, Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis. Through a compilation of scissor graphs and intimate stories of families across our country, Putnam shares evidence of an increasing opportunity gap between poor and affluent children perpetuated by changes in families, parenting, schools, and communities over the past sixty years. His work challenges me to not only evaluate how my own personal experiences and observations confirm the patterns he reveals, but also how I currently use my knowledge, resources, and influence to narrow or expand the opportunity gap. Schools are a microcosm of society and the one social institution that I believe can have a major impact in changing student outcomes by reaching out and embracing our responsibility to improve the lives of the next generation. I cannot shirk my responsibility to work collaboratively with other educators and community members to lead change that will positively impact not only students’ educational experiences, but also their lives.

View title in library catalog