University of California Press Classrooms and Corridors: The Crisis of Authority in Desegregated Secondary Schools

Classrooms and Corridors: The Crisis of Authority in Desegregated Secondary Schools delves into the complex dynamics of education and social order within two urban junior high schools navigating the challenges of desegregation. Based on extensive fieldwork, this book provides a vivid, in-depth portrayal of daily life in these schools, highlighting the struggle to balance academic objectives with the need for safety and civility. Through detailed observations, interviews, and an analysis of over 4,000 pages of notes and transcripts, the author offers a nuanced examination of how educators and students interact in a charged environment shaped by shifting racial, social, and cultural contexts. The study’s rich narrative captures how these unique circumstances reveal broader processes that influence schools across the nation, making it a vital resource for understanding the intersection of education, authority, and community in transitional settings. Written with both scholarly rigor and accessibility for educators, parents, and policymakers, Classrooms and Corridors transcends theoretical analysis to provide practical insights. The book situates its findings within the broader framework of organizational theory and authority, offering a lens through which to interpret the challenges of maintaining order and fostering cooperation in diverse educational environments. By documenting the experiences of teachers, administrators, and students during a transformative period in American history, it illuminates the often invisible forces that shape learning and behavior. This compelling study is not only a chronicle of two extraordinary schools but also a guide to understanding the universal challenges faced by secondary schools striving to integrate academic success with an equitable and harmonious community. This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1978.