by Elizabeth Green ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 4, 2014
A powerful, rational guidebook to creating genuinely effective education, written in a manner useful not just for...
Ideas from a former principal on what makes for an exceptional teacher.
Accountability and autonomy are the two guiding lights for prescribing changes in our schools, and as Green notes early on in this book, the two principles are often at loggerheads. Accountability proponents believe in leveraging the power of data to study which teachers’ students are meeting or exceeding goals; opponents claim that it stultifies educators, diminishing the profession, and ineffectively measuring teacher and student “success.” Autonomy proponents believe that if you elevate the profession and let the teachers steer their ships, the trust, freedom and respect will enable them to do their very best. Green gives both of these views credence but goes further to suggest that the reverence surrounding the best teachers is misguided, in that it elevates the “natural born educator” mythos that suggests an inborn talent. Green deflates the “I could never do what they do” aura of the best teachers, but in a good way. In extensive conversations and observations that uncover the approaches that the best educators share, she distills how they apply those approaches in similar ways despite differences in extraversion/introversion, humorous/serious teaching approaches, and flexible/rigid standards. Green goes deeper than bromides about student engagement and motivation, digging into data about student success as well as examining the means used to collect the data. She also chronicles her visits with professionals at multiple levels (administrative, support, frontline teachers) through various successes and failures, gleaning wisdom from both—just as the best teachers would have their students do.
A powerful, rational guidebook to creating genuinely effective education, written in a manner useful not just for schoolteachers, but everyone involved in the care of children.Pub Date: Aug. 4, 2014
ISBN: 978-0-393-08159-6
Page Count: 320
Publisher: Norton
Review Posted Online: July 1, 2014
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2014
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by Rob Baggett ‧ RELEASE DATE: N/A
An important manual for those brave enough to face their shortcomings.
A middle-school guidance counselor offers passionate words of wisdom regarding the profound American need for responsibility, trust and character.
In a collection of short essays, some no longer than a paragraph, Baggett makes the case that in today’s society, the importance of virtuous behavior has diminished in favor of a desire for immediate satisfaction and a tendency to shrug off accountability. A tolerance for all ideologies and a willingness to explain away questionable conduct has become the norm in our current politically correct culture, leading to a dangerous lack of common ethical values. The author argues that respect and self-discipline are the hallmarks of American democracy, and without these principles, the country will experience a moral disintegration. Character education in public schools is imperative to the development of a new generation that knows true freedom does not mean freedom from responsibility. According to Baggett, character depends not only on the nurturing of trust, but also one’s willingness and courage to look deep within to discover faults and weaknesses. Perhaps one of the more intriguing ideas in the book involves culpability; without the feeling of guilt, personal growth and the development of positive character traits may be seriously impaired. Baggett, who tends toward redundancy in his efforts to convince, fortunately makes his work accessible by including memorable stories from his work with young teenagers and presenting exercises that promote self-examination. By quoting famous figures from Albert Einstein to Pogo, the author provides inspiration to readers who wish to tackle the challenge of becoming well-rounded, respectful and powerful citizens. Despite a pledge in the introduction that his Christian beliefs will not seep through the pages, a cranky sort of conservatism–and a generous sampling of scripture–may push more liberal readers away from the book. But the author’s passion for his subject makes for a spirited call for change.
An important manual for those brave enough to face their shortcomings.Pub Date: N/A
ISBN: 978-1-4196-9781-4
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 27, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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by Jacqueline A. Faulhaber ‧ RELEASE DATE: July 21, 2008
A worthwhile addition to the existing group of books on Christian leadership.
Impressive, though at times imposing, exploration of incorporating biblical precepts into the study of leadership.
Faulhaber explains leadership as “an outcome or manifestation of [a] person’s character.” As such, from the Christian perspective, as a person’s character becomes more Christlike, that person becomes a more effective leader. Faulhaber encourages leadership based upon love of others, rather than love of self. Ultimately, she promotes “virtuous” leadership, which she argues counters modern concepts of leadership. She writes that today’s society focuses upon “values,” which are relativistic, whereas virtue is tied to objective moral truths. Hence a Christlike leadership is more interested in virtue than values. Faulhaber continues to explore examples of Christ’s leadership, and how it ran counter to the idea of leadership-as-power in biblical times and still runs counter to such a view. She also explores the role of grace in developing biblical leadership, arguing that such a role can only be gained through hard work and diligence, supported by God’s grace, for only grace helps leaders grow in the midst of so many obstacles. In the final analysis, Faulhaber hopes that virtuous leadership will be a “transformative leadership” as well, changing the paradigms which leaders are called upon to reform and, basically, turning the structure of power on its head. Faulhaber’s book is extremely well-researched and is brimming with quotations from figures as diverse as C.S. Lewis and Nietzsche. However, the number of outside references becomes slightly intimidating, acting as a barrier to what is otherwise a rather clear message. Likewise, visual diagrams throughout the book fail to simplify the material and are unnecessarily complex. Nevertheless the book provides beneficial advice on how Christian readers can put their beliefs into practice.
A worthwhile addition to the existing group of books on Christian leadership.Pub Date: July 21, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4363-4179-0
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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