Cultural Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know This landmark book by E. D. Hirsch provides a resounding argument in favor of teaching students specific, substantial academic content. He provides several convincing reasons why a core body of knowledge is essential to a successful democracy, and demonstrates that challenging, content-filled lessons need not be dull or stifle creativity.
	The Schools We Need and Why We Don't Have Them also by E. D. Hirsch addresses the question of how teachers should teach their students. He points out the flaws of the 'student-led' methods of learning that typically result in less content and skill acquisition by the students as compared to the traditional direct instruction method. He also provides a fascinating history of educational theory, and debunks the claim that the 'natural' or 'student-led' method has never been given a fair trial in the classroom.
	Building Character in Schools by Kevin Ryan and Karen Bohlin provides an outstanding resource for teachers and parents who want to find out the hows and the whys of building a character education program into their school.
	Why Johnny Can't Tell Right from Wrong by William Kilpatrick examines the decline in students' morality and ethics in the last two generations. He clearly demonstrates why the 'values clarification' method of character education pushed in many schools can only result in moral relativism and confusion. He also strongly defends a return to a deliberate attempt to cultivate a clear sense of right and wrong in our young people.