This narrative ethnography adopts an aesthetic lens to relay the various lived experiences of a non-traditional, Midwestern public high school during its final year in its original building. Extending upon previous research of high school dropouts, I examine how this one particular high school incorporated a self-paced curriculum with a focus on "family" to address the unique learning needs of students at risk of not graduating. By employing elements of grounded theory, narrative inquiry, and autoethnography, I share the stories of Walgut High School's (a pseudonym) roughly sixty students as they struggle to navigate their respective roles in a dominant cultural narrative to which they've never felt like they belonged. Through the extensive and organic voices of the primary participants-as well as my observations of my own participation in the school culture over the course of a year-this project serves to offer insights not only into the school experiences of marginalized adolescents, but also into Walgut's myriad successes and failures. In particular, this piece highlights the vitality of unconditionally caring or "hospitable" teachers (Derrida, 2000), while ultimately questioning the presumed utility of a high school diploma. The story concludes not by lauding the alternative mine created for Walgut's canaries, but by questioning the purpose and stability of all scholastic minds. As American schools continue making strides to accommodate and support the complex and oftentimes contradictory needs of their students, what it means to succeed as a teacher in (and prepare teachers for) these diversified, inclusive learning spaces is growing increasingly complicated. Indeed, given the shifting paradigm of American public education, teacher preparation programs must continue to adapt their practices and philosophies in order to equip their teacher candidates with the skills needed not only to thrive but also find purpose and meaning in schools similar to this project's Walgut. While this book doesn't claim to offer any answers to the myriad questions concerning the future of public schools, it does endeavor to offer a springboard from which all education stakeholders can continue engaging in healthy and productive discussions of how best to prepare students (and teachers) for autonomous, democratic, curious, creative, and compassionate citizenship both in and apart from their academic communities. To this end, rather than write from a detached, traditionally academic vantage, I have sought in these pages to compose from a personal (albeit limited), passionate (albeit subjective) and participatory (albeit someone marginalized) perspective. In my pursuit of social justice for the characters of Walgut High School, I begin first by exposing my own privileged role in perpetuating injustice. Only through recognizing and naming our own demons can we ever begin to exorcize the System writ large. Thus, in this book's lack, there is possibility; in its futility, hope.

Education, Occupation and Social Origin is a must-read book for anyone even faintly interested in social inequality. Comparing across many cohorts in 14 nations, the disheartening conclusion that here emerges is the lack of any genuine equalization of life chances. Advantage breeds advantage and, alas, educational expansion has not proven to be the great social leveler. This volume delivers the most up-to-date evidence, and it does it with scientific rigor and bravura. From the first to the last page this is world-class scholarship that will define our research agenda for many years to come.' - Gosta Esping-Andersen, Pompeu Fabra University, Spain Questioning the assumption that education is the 'great social equalizer', this book takes a comparative approach to the Social Origin-Education-Destination triangle by examining advantage in 14 different countries, including case studies from Europe, Israel, the USA, Russia and Japan. Contributions from leading experts examine the relation between family background, education and occupational achievement over time and across educational levels, focussing on the relationship between individuals' social origins and their income and occupational outcomes. Providing new theoretical insights, this book eloquently analyses a variety of barriers to social mobility. Using concepts of compensatory and boosting advantage to explain the intergenerational transmission of social inequality, it refutes the notion of contemporary societies as education-based and meritocratic, showing that in most of the countries studied there is no sign of decreasing intergenerational association, despite the expansion of education. With its multitude of pertinent case studies, Education, Occupation and Social Origin will be of interest to academics and students of social policy as well as those interested in social inequalities and their evolution over time. It will also be a useful reference for governmental policy makers in the wake of the current economic crisis. Contributors: S. Arita, G. Ballarino, E. Bar Haim, C. Barone, F. Bernardi, A. Bessudnov, E. Bihagen, C. Blank, M. Bouchet-Valat, M. Gratz, J. Harkoenen, T. Keller, F. Lagana, A. Mastekaasa, N. Panichella, C. Peugny, R. Pollack, P. Robert, Y. Sato, Y. Shavit, J. Tolsma, F. Torche, L.-A. Vallet, L. Vandecasteele, M.H.J. Wolbers

This book is a practical resource designed to raise leadership educators understanding of culturally relevant leadership pedagogy for the purpose of creating inclusive learning spaces that are socially just for students. For leadership educators seeking personal and professional development to assist in building and enhancing their levels of cultural competence in leadership education, this book is a guide. The audience for the book ranges from new and entry-level leadership educator roles to senior scholars in leadership education. Operationalizing Culturally Relevant Leadership Learning, provides leadership educators with a substantive and comprehensive approach to the topic, offering personal narratives from leadership educators who have operationalized the model in their own personal and professional contexts. We believe that reframing leadership education with the culturally relevant leadership learning model, leadership educators will be able to integrate new insights into their own pedagogy and practice and move towards action. This book illustrates how leadership educators can shift the way they experience and facilitate leadership learning. By framing the operationalization of culturally relevant leadership learning, this book discusses the why, who, what, where, when, and how of developing culturally relevant and socially just leadership education. Readers of this text are encouraged to actively engage in the content through the questions each chapter pose and consider for themselves how culturally relevant leadership learning can be implemented in their own context.

School counseling in the 21st century requires a new set of skills and practices than seen in past decades. With a sharper focus on social justice, the experiences and challenges for marginalized groups, and more open discussions as to issues students face, school counselors must be best equipped to handle all types of diverse students and situations. School counselors and guidance programs must address multicultural needs, underserved populations, and students with issues ranging from mental illness to family issues to chronic-illnesses and LGBTQ+ identities. Moreover, they must be prepared to guide students to learning success and adequately prepare them for future careers. The challenges students face in the 21st century lead to new ways to prepare, support, and educate school counselors in modern educational atmospheres with student bodies that are handling vastly different challenges, identities, and lifestyles. School counselors must navigate the profession with information on best practices, techniques, and 21st century skillsets that can adequately support and help all students. The Research Anthology on Navigating School Counseling in the 21st Century provides emerging research on the best practices in school counseling, along with methods, techniques, and professional development initiatives to better understand diverse student populations, needs, and challenges. This book will not only focus on how school counselors must adapt and learn in their own professional careers, but also how school counseling is functioning in the 21st century with the new concerns and obstacles students must face and overcome. The chapters provide a holistic view of how counselors are navigating their positions to best serve their students through effective practices, programs, and new tools and technologies. This book is ideal for school counselors, therapists, school psychologists, counseling educators, administrators, practitioners, researchers, academicians, and students who are interested in school counseling in the 21st century.