Author: Thomas Paine File Type: mobi Common Sense and Other Writings, by Thomas Paine, is part of the Barnes & Noble Classicsseries, which offers quality editions at affordable prices to the student and the general reader, including new scholarship, thoughtful design, and pages of carefully crafted extras. Here are some of the remarkable features of Barnes & Noble Classics New introductions commissioned from todays top writers and scholars Biographies of the authors Chronologies of contemporary historical, biographical, and cultural events Footnotes and endnotes Selective discussions of imitations, parodies, poems, books, plays, paintings, operas, statuary, and films inspired by the work Comments by other famous authors Study questions to challenge the readers viewpoints and expectations Bibliographies for further reading Indices & Glossaries, when appropriateAll editions are beautifully designed and are printed to superior specifications some include illustrations of historical interest. Barnes & Noble Classics pulls together a constellation of influencesbiographical, historical, and literaryto enrich each readers understanding of these enduring works.Though he did not emigrate from England to the American colonies until 1774, just a few months before the Revolutionary War began, Thomas Paine had an enormous impact on that war and the new nation that emerged from it. Common Sense, the instantly popular pamphlet he published in January 1776, argued that the goal of the struggle against the British should be not simply tax reform, as many were calling for, but complete independence. His rousing, radical voice was balanced by the equally independence-minded but more measured tones of Thomas Jefferson, who wrote the Declaration of Independence later that year.In later works, such as The Rights of Man, The Age of Reason, and other selections included in this volume, Paine proved himself a visionary moralist centuries ahead of his time. He believed that every human has the natural right to lifes necessities and that governments role should be to provide for those in dire need. An impassioned opponent of all forms of slavery, he understood that no one in poverty is truly free, a lesson still to be learned by many of our leaders today.Joyce Appleby, Professor Emerita at the University of California, Los Angeles, has followed the trajectory of American nation-building in her books Capitalism and a New Social Order The Republican Vision of the 1790s, Inheriting the Revolution The First Generation of Americans, Thomas Jefferson, and A Restless Past History and the American Public. Thomas Paines book Common Sense was the written word that inflamed and drove the people of the colonies to the cause of the American Revolution. It was a clear and passionate document for freedom from the English Crown. Over 500,000 ccopies were sold in just a few months from when it was written in January 1776. His book The Rights of Man is a clear document for democracy and egalitarianism. It supported all forms of a progressive society and was an inspiration for the patriots of Americas early days. Also, The Age of Reason was his last book and almost entirely is centered on religion - Christianity. It puts to test many questions towards faith in order to make valid answers possible. Many essential beliefs are confronted with rational logic. A Cpollectors Edition.

Author: John Merrow File Type: epub The prize-winning PBS correspondents provocative antidote to Americas misguided approaches to K-12 school reform During an illustrious four-decade career at NPR and PBS, John Merrowwinner of the George Polk Award, the Peabody Award, and the McGraw Prizereported from every state in the union, as well as from dozens of countries, on everything from the rise of district-wide cheating scandals and the corporate greed driving an ADD epidemic to teacher-training controversies and Americas obsession with standardized testing. Along the way, he taught in a high school, at a historically black college, and at a federal penitentiary.Now, the revered education correspondent of PBS NewsHour distills his best thinking on education into a twelve-step approach to fixing a K12 system that Merrow describes as being addicted to reform but unwilling to address the real issue American public schools are ill-equipped to prepare young people for the challenges of the twenty-first century.This insightful book looks at how to turn digital natives into digital citizens and why it should be harder to become a teacher but easier to be one. Merrow offers smart, essential chaptersincluding Measure What Matters, and Embrace Teachersthat reflect his countless hours spent covering classrooms as well as corridors of power. His signature candid style of reportage comes to life as he shares lively anecdotes, schoolyard tales, and memories that are at once instructive and endearing.Addicted to Reform is written with the kind of passionate concern that could come only from a lifetime devoted to the people and places that constitute the foundation of our nation. It is a big book that forms an astute and urgent blueprint for providing a quality education to every American child.**ReviewPraise for Addicted to Reform The real-world examples and Merrows passion shine through allowing readers to envision a potential future for education. Library Journal From an award-winning career as an education correspondent, Merrow (The Influence of Teachers, 2011, etc.) sees a nation desperately in need of recovery from addiction to testing and pouring good money after bad. Kirkus Reviews As a lifelong advocate for progressive, child-centered education, I feel strongly that twenty-first-century schools must equip all students to participate in our great democracy and in todays changing world. John Merrow sets forth twelve sensible steps to accomplish that goal, and his clear blueprint also contains entertaining and inspiring stories from his distinguished career. Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education Finally someone has the courage to bar the door, stare them down, and do an intervention on the stumbling school reformers still clinging to their cocktail of privatize, standardize, and de-professionalize. John Merrow reveals the destructive truth behind these toxic reforms, and his twelve steps lead to the sacred purpose of education to humanize connections to deepen understanding to know how to form a fine question and question your own conclusions. This is a good book. You should read it. Twice. Lilly Eskelsen Garcia, president of the National Education Association Addicted to Reform is a wise set of lessons that will inform parents, educators, and policy makers about the challenges facing American education. Diane Ravitch, author of *Reign of Error* John Merrow cuts through the mythologies surrounding school reform and the madness of the testing craze, as well as the dangerous privatizing drive, with a sharp edge of seasoned insight and delectable irreverence. A valuable book from a guy whos seen it all. Jonathan Kozol, author of Fire in the Ashes and *Savage Inequalities* If you think youve read all you need about education reform, think again. Addicted to Reform is brilliantly written and contains an insightful analysis of the chronic failure of education reforms in the United States. With a book that is enjoyable, inspirational, and important, John Merrow reclaims his place as a leading proponent of change in American public education. Pasi Sahlberg, author of *Finnish Lessons* Pulling no punches, John Merrow lays out the deficiencies of American efforts at school reform and explains what needs to be doneprovided we have the wits and the will to do so. Howard Gardner, Hobbs Professor of Cognition and Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education John Merrows twelve-step program provides a sober, thoughtful, practical way to revitalize public education and, in doing so, strengthen our democracy. Herbert Kohl, author and educator Praise for John Merrows The Influence of Teachers A warm and thoughtful tribute to teachers, as well as a call to action from the Dean of American Education Reportersboth important and enjoyable. Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education Praise for John Merrows Choosing Excellence Common sense and an uncommon shrewdness intermix in the good counsel that [Merrow] offers here. Jonathan Kozol An outstanding assessment of the current state of the nations schools. Publishers Weekly Sophisticated, thoughtful, and down-to-earth. Deborah Meier, author of *The Power of Their Ideas* Praise for John Merrow Nobody reports on the treasures and traumas of public education better than John Merrow. He is, quite simply, the leading education journalist in America. Jim Lehrer, former anchor for *PBS NewsHour* About the Author John Merrow recently retired as education correspondent for the PBS NewsHour. He founded and until 2015 was the president of Learning Matters, a nonprofit media company. In 2012 Merrow became the first journalist to win the prestigious McGraw Prize in Education. He lives with his wife in New York City and his books include Addicted to Reform (The New Press), Choosing Excellence, Declining by Degrees, and The Influence of Teachers.