"This volume addresses one of the central issues in education: how best to instruct our students. From the late Jeanne S. Chall, a leading figure in American education, the book reviews and evaluates the many educational reforms and innovations that have been proposed and employed over the past century. Systematically analyzing a vast body of qualitative and quantitative research, Dr. Chall compares achievement rates that result from traditional, teacher-centered approaches with those resulting from progressive, student-centered methods. Her findings are striking and clear: the teacher-centered approaches result in higher achievement overall. Offering cogent recommendations for practice, the book makes a strong case for basing future education reforms and innovations on a solid empirical foundation." "This book is an essential resource for teacher educators and graduate students in education, teachers and school administrators, specialists in reading, math, science, and social studies, educational psychologists, education policymakers, and interested general readers."--Jacket.