Learn More About Scripting the Moves
through the podcasts and book reviews linked below.
jay mathews, washington post
“Joanne W. Golann, a sociologist and ethnographer at Vanderbilt University, has written one of the deepest accounts of life in a demanding public charter school I have ever read. She shows teachers enforcing strict rules for behavior. She looks closely at scripted lessons for students mostly from low-income Black and Hispanic families.”
Bob Barrett, WAMC Northeast public Radio Podcast
“Silent, single-file lines. Detention for putting a head on a desk. Rules for how to dress, how to applaud, how to complete homework. Walk into some of the most acclaimed urban schools today and you will find similar recipes of behavior, designed to support student achievement. Joanne Golann, assistant professor of public policy and education at Peabody College, Vanderbilt University, spent a year doing just that. In her new book called “Scripting The Moves – Culture and Control in a No-Excuses Charter School”, Dr. Golann describes the good intentions and the unintended consequences of these rigidly controlled schools. Today on The Best Of Our Knowledge, we'll hear about her research on these schools.”
Samuel E. Abrams, National Center for the study of privatization in education
“Few education initiatives have generated as much praise as well as philanthropic funding as the ‘no-excuses’ charter school movement. Yet criticism of the movement has recently been growing, from both inside and out, so much so that KIPP (short for Knowledge Is Power Program), the movement’s standard-bearer, dropped its motto—’Work Hard. Be Nice.’—one year ago in acknowledgement of the conflict between the organization’s rigid code of conduct and its goal of fostering student independence.
No book captures the tension between these competing forces as well as Joanne W. Golann’s Scripting the Moves: Culture and Control in a “No-Excuses” Charter School (Princeton University Press, 2021).”
Robert Pondiscio, Education Next
“In general, Golann’s observations are thoughtful, scholarly, and, in contrast to many who have sought merely to discredit the no-excuses model, mostly empathetic. There is a problem, however, and it’s a significant one: Her analysis rests largely on 18 months of fieldwork dating back to September 2012.”
Amy Halpern-Laff, ethical schools Podcast
“Our guest today is Joanne Golann. Dr. Golann is assistant professor of public policy and education and assistant professor of sociology at Vanderbilt University. Her research explores how schools and families transmit cultural skills, behaviors, and habits to children. Her recent book “Scripting the Moves: Culture and Control in a No Excuses Charter School” is based on the 18 months she spent observing a no excuses charter middle school.”
Leonie Haimson, Talk out of school podcast
“After a brief rundown of the local education news related to COVID-19 and the planning for the reopening of NYC schools in the fall, Leonie interviewed Joanne Golann, author of Scripting the Moves, a close in-person look at a no-excuses charter school, its policies and practices, and their effect on the students and teachers.”
NICK GESUALDI, TEACHERS COLLEGE RECORD
“Educational books tend to either have a more theoretical bent and be geared towards scholars and undergraduate or graduate classroom settings, or they are more practitioner-focused and geared towards classroom teachers or professional development settings. Scripting the Moves is both rather unusual and remarkable in that it would be at home in either of these settings. The theoretical foundation of the book is solid, well sourced, and explained in a manner that will resonate with both scholars and practitioners. Adding this book to your own professional reading list, course syllabus, or professional learning community will be well worth your time.”
ABIGAIL ORRICK, HARVARD EDUCATIONAL REVIEW
“Ultimately, Scripting the Moves provides not just the useful lens of “scripts” and “tools” through which to understand the drawbacks of the no-excuses model but a theoretical framework for critically examining our collective mindsets and beliefs about what low-income, BIPOC children need to succeed in a world plagued by racism and economic inequality. This prompt for critical reflection is another realm in which Golann shines. Scripting the Moves highlights her ability to acknowledge the harm of the no-excuses model while calling for accountability and change. This is not a volume written to endlessly condemn those who espoused these schools; rather, it highlights the intractable links between race, social control, and education and begs us to contend with the harmful “narrative, practices, and structures that seep throughout schools and society” (p. 172).
August G. Smith, Sociological Forum
“One of the most impressive aspects of this book is the way Golann both critically and respectfully portrays the school dynamics from the perspectives of students, parents, and educators. The school scripts are difficult for everyone, yet they are understood to be unavoidable or, at the very least, a lesser evil. Students and parents know that Dream Academy is the best path into college given the limited options in their city. Yet, this does not make it easier for students to cope with the stress, heavy workload, and constant monitoring. And while parents agree to the school policies when they sign the contract upon enrollment, they sometimes push back when they perceive the school's policies as entering into the realm of disrespect. Teachers join the school because they believe in the mission and are convinced by the results of the no-excuses model, yet many of them express concerns over the rigid scripts.”