School made us do it.
598465
Assigned for school. Solid read but not all that wow.
1610653
Mr, Reifman's book put the ownership of learning back on the student through goal setting and creating a positive learning environment. Learning is made exciting again. I look forward to using the authors strategies this fall!
2125731
In English class, each class got assigned a book to read. Out of the three classes, my class was the only one who enjoyed their book. This book brought up so many disscusions and interesting "off the subject" talks that everyone had a good time reading it. We even had almost the whole class doing their homework on it. So, I must say, to have a class of about 25 seventh grade kids liking the assigned book, is pretty impressive.
4849208
Love this story and it really motivated my students.  Everyone brought a food beginning with the first letter in their name.  We took pictures and made a class book.
634290
Kyle Gray neatly summarizes how students can take charge of their education and, in turn, their lives.  I have always said that education is too important to be left in the hands of professors (of which I am one).  Let the students take the lead--the faculty will catch up sooner of later.

Jay Barney
3717033
My last semester in my classes to be a teacher my professor read this to us at the end of the term.  Everyone was so inspired from this story since we all worked so hard to get where we were and it was nice to be recognized.  I plan to purchase this book for graduation gifts and when I teach I will read this to my students at the end of the term as well. It is not only inspiring but it is encouraging to keep on going.
1842911
I am so glad my children didn't have to go to school under these conditions and know that there has to be something done about them. You probably had to be there to really understand the scope of the problem. More people need to be aware that this kind of problem exists.
4189574
My son is a junior in high school.  He's always been good at math but a combination of getting lazy and not wanting to put effort into his studies suddenly put him into a situation where he was getting a D in pre-cal.  I made him bring his school book home every night, do whatever he learned in class along with homework over again the second time.  Then I made him read the appropriate section in Pre-cal for Dummies and do the problems in this work book.  In a month he is back to a solid B.  I'm going to push him to get an A second semester.  Math is important and for my son, a little extra effort and the For Dummies books made a difference between a D and a B.
3190098
As a past educator in Spanish Harlam, NY and Fort Apache in the BX,
I have embraced this book and know the full merit of its care and
dedication to the children. I admire the pro-active approach of
community and school.  They have made a success to reclaim education
for the children. I wish I had been part of that process.

What has been accomplished has not been easy.  Reaching out, making
a difference calls for dedication beyond the school hours. While the
book is not a blueprint for all; it is a "foot print" to lead others
step by step to find their own change, make community schools powerful,
enrich and prove the spirit of true education.

Yes, a must read that inspires and provides a beacon of light when too
many educators have become numb to the process of pitching in and
doing more, doing what an educator should do and parents not taking
the time to help their children.
3314
It was fun reading this again and being reminded that our teachers have more to do in their day besides teaching the basics.  One teacher can touch so many lives, but even if they just help one person, their career choice is worth it.  Hang in there teachers.  This book shows that you do have the ability to change lives and give children hope for the future.
3274590
If our children really learn that the decisions they make, even small decisions, have an affect on the world they inhabit they will have received a true and relevant education. As a teacher and a mother, I read this book with great relish. The time has come for humane education, our world has never needed it more. I will buy this book for many parents and educators I know. Ms. Weil offers a way out of our cycle of uninspiring and increasing obsolete education -- it's revolutionary in its simplicity. Thank you.
3748112
It helped out a lot. I got to finish my reading and project in time for school to begin. Thanks
3189232
I used this course this year for a group of homeschooled highschoolers, and this is what I have noticed, now that we are finished this course of study:  first,  the confidence level of the group as a whole has increased pretty remarkably.  I found my students were EAGER to share their writing with other kids, and there was a real sense of accomplishment in our class. Secondly, grammar and mechanics issues were able to be addressed in a very organic fashion throughout the year, within the writing process.  Finally, many,not all, but many of the assignments are fun and quirky, appealing to the adolescent, making my job much easier.  I paired this course with my own 5 paragraph essay instruction and the typical high school research paper project to make a very challenging and productive composition course.
1830755
This book is a case study on the value of commitment to our young men's education.  It should be read by not only parents and students, but by TEACHER's who influence the development of our young men.
1516656
Everything he says is true. It's almost universal throughout America, regardless of the economic factors around the school. The system thwarts caring teachers and interested students at every turn. You can't grade people on a uniform scale like some mass-produced good and expect their uniqueness to ripen and shine.

When I was 3, my mother, a single mother and a public school teacher, was able to see the then-private internal rankings of quality of schools in the county. She moved to the area where the elementary, middle, and high schools were rated the highest. By all rights, my brother and I got a good education.

Except that it was terrible. I was in the gifted & talented section of a very well-funded school and so I had more caring teachers than most people do, but even together they could only do so much to offset the rest. I was terribly depressed every Monday from 3rd grade onwards, because I'd spent a weekend learning and doing things that made me feel good -- reading, writing, learning graphic design and programming, hiking, etc. -- and then I had to go back to school. I worried myself sick, I developed an ulcer, and I became cold and callous and joyless. More over, my peers behaved in other ways he predicted, being incapable of individual thought and freaking out as soon as they were in a situation they didn't expect -- and a number of them were vicious or extremely promiscuous (at 12 and 13!) and the parents and teachers never even saw it.

I hated my life. When I was 15, I found "The Teenage Liberation Handbook." It's poorly written, but inspiring. I told my mother that if she didn't let me escape school, I'd never forgive her. Despite my parents' doomsaying, they let me do it, and I've had a better life than either of them so far (happier, earning more, more friends, far fewer destructive problems -- alcoholism, depression, prescription drug abuse). Moreover, they didn't teach me -- I taught myself, and sought out help when I needed it.

But TTLH never explained why school made me so miserable. Arrogantly, I thought it was because I was so much more intelligent than my peers. This may be true, but who knows how intelligent they'd have been if they had been as resistant to the schooling as I was. I learned this from John Taylor Gatto, who eloquently captures it all in every essay.

He has pinpointed the symptoms, ferreted out the problem, and been more honest about his former profession than any other teacher since John Holt. He's also more realistic than Holt, and a better writer, so points for that.

If you or your kids are unhappy with school, do something about it. Read these books, get inspired, and live the life you want to live -- or help your kids live the lives they want. You only get one life and don't believe the people who tell you you must waste the first 22 years of it to "prepare" for the remaining two-thirds.

Education is not preparation for life, education is life itself. -- John Dewey
1617697
I teach math and on Friday's we get to wear shirts that have to do with colleges, career's or our subject. The shirt was a big hit and my principal even laughed. It's great when I find ways to obey the rules but add my geek flair.
3711095
In the US you are a slave to everyone until you graduate high school. This book reminded me how I felt in a system where I had little or no rights to choose for myself, even if I knew better. We really should give kids more choices, especially if they are gifted.