"Examining primary and secondary schools in disadvantaged areas of postindustrial or ôrustbeltö cities, this book outlines an alternative approach to education policy. The ways in which educational and social disadvantages are inextricably linked in children's lives are discussed. Concrete evidence illustrates how government policies to gauge learning success through standardized testing in the Western world are ineffective and create a permanent underclass. This book challenges those in education to adopt a more realistic approach to educational policy that is conducive to nurturing success, especially among disadvantaged schools."