Settling Conflict in Rural New York Schools: Case Studies of Education Reform

Education is a major source of conflict among citizens, voters, and residents across the States. From the colonists in New England's efforts to educate their children in the late 1800s, to the recent debates over mask mandates at schools emerging from Covid-19, the what and how's of teaching the past and present result in highly contested, fiercely debated meetings and opinions across each state. The latest conflict in education and politics is a reincarnation of what and how to teach history, with the rallying cry from the politically motivated demonizing Critical Race Theory, inclusive Civics, and History education. This book examines a slice of conflict, and does so in a rural context in New York state, perceived by many as an urban state. Utilizing local archives, local newspapers, and state archives, this book seeks to broaden research into the Post World War II educational reforms outside of the traditional rural deficit narrative, and the predominant urban focus present in most works.