The Aptitude Myth addresses the decline in American children's mastery of critical school subjects. It contends that a contributing cause for this decline derives from many Americans' ways of thinking about children's learning: They believe that school performance is determined very largely by innate aptitude.

IntroductionPart I: European AntecedentsChapter 1 A Perspective on Teaching Out of the Depths of TimeChapter 2 Greek Philosophers Focus on a World Beyond the SensesChapter 3 New Views of the Natural WorldChapter 4 New Views of Human Consciousness and LearningChapter 5. New Views of Children and ChildhoodChapter 6. New Views of Authority in Societies and SchoolsChapter 7. New Ideals for Human Life and LearningChapter 8 An Influential Educator Reflects the Currents of His TimeChapter 9. New Views and Ideals All Coalesce in One Man's MindChapter 10 Basic Guidelines for the Western-Contemporary ParadigmPart II: American ResponsesChapter 11 Evolving Notions of Child-Rearing in Pre-Civil War AmericaChapter 12 Emerging Social Currents in Post-Civil War AmericaChapter 13 Emerging Intellectual Currents in Post-Civil War AmericaChapter 14 American Educational Metamorphosis I: Socially Efficient EducationChapter 15. American Educational Metamorphosis II: Child-Centered TeachingChapter 16 American Educational Metamorphosis III: A "Given" Joins the EstablishmentPart III: Tomorrow's OpportunitiesChapter 17 Which Problems Is it Now More Significant to Solve?Chapter 18 Toward a New Paradigm: Seven Assertions to Think WithIndexAbout the Author