What Is School For?: A Manifesto for Parents

School is boring. School is fun. School is under threat. School is complex. School is needed. School is too big to change. Instead of letting our concerns as parents overwhelm us, what if we simply asked the question, "What is school for?"

Jessica Zou, a brand strategist, is a parent, first and foremost. When her oldest son's school cut their art program without notice, she found herself on a journey deeper into the school system than she ever imagined going. Her work in What Is School For? peels away the layers of complexity that keep us from creating change and offers parents another way of looking at our schools. A way that accesses the core purpose of school-the determining factors that shape almost everything in the school environment.

When parents learn to see school as a system meant for learning first, they no longer wonder when to speak up or how. It all becomes much clearer: If schools really are here for our children, then being a parent, first and foremost, is all the credibility we need in order to help our schools improve.