This little book is driven by big questions. What does it mean to be educated? What is intelligence? How should we think about intelligence, education, and opportunity in an open society? In Why School?, award-winning author and lifelong educator Mike Rose calls on us to consider our fundamental beliefs about education, eloquently arguing that contemporary education policy has lost its way. In the tradition of Jonathan Kozol, Rose explores those core principles that ought to guide education in beautifully written chapters that are both rich in detail--a first-grader conducting a science experiment, a carpenter solving a problem on the fly, a college student's encounter with a story by James Joyce--and informed by a deep understanding of history, the psychology of learning, and the politics of education. Why School? challenges today's narrow focus on high-stakes testing and economic competition. It also serves as a critical reminder of the broader purposes of school: the intellectual, social, civic, and ethical development of individuals. Sure to be embraced by parents and teachers alike, Why School? will captivate readers everywhere with Rose's bountiful and democratic vision of the purpose of schooling--a truly American education for the mind and heart.