Inspiring Books

I've spent the last 6 years reading Science textbooks or trying to get into science fiction/ fantasy. Matt likes these books and I think it would be fun for us to read the same thing and talk about it, but I cannot get into it. Aside from Harry Potter and Twlight, I've finished one fantasy book every two years.

So I just finish reading Smart Kids, Bad Schools: 38 Ways to Save America's Future by Brian Crosby. I found this at Half Price Books, looking for some inspiration and prevent end of the year burn out. I could not put the book down. The general idea is that America's public education system does not prepare students for jobs or college. Many of the ideas in this book are about budgets and calendars (like shorter summers and week long breaks every 9 weeks). Interesting ideas, but really not applicable to me.

Here are some of my favorite ideas:
- Don't make schools like prisons with gates, locks, metal detectors and bells. When we expect our students to act like criminal, they will.
- Eliminate middle school. Crosby argues that 11-14 year olds are struggling enough without the added stress of crowded hallways and 7 different teachers.
- No homework? - not sure I agree here but he says we expect too much from these kids, 8 hours of school work a day is enough. If could were actually working a school this would be fine, and in my class homework is usually just completed an assignment that you did not have time to finish (usually 2 or 3 will finish during class) or studying for a test or quiz.
- "Required community service", "Mandatory classes in the arts", and frequent field trips - my school does this already.
- Cut spending in Special Ed - controversial but these students are taking twice as much money as general education students. Some of the costs could go to health insurance companies. Advanced Placement classes and fine arts classes are the first to get cut when money is short.
- Raise the standards and do more for the advanced placement students, rather than assume they are smart enough, therefore don't need more help.

Treat teachers like professionals. Shocking?
- Pay them more, this would attract higher quality educators.
- Train teachers in public speaking and acting.
- Create leadership positions and opportunity for advancement. Does anyone besides teachers go to college to work the same position until retirement?
- Hire "Paraeducators" much like college professor's TAs to administer tests, cover classes for meetings and trainings and to give the teacher a bathroom break! Even teachers have to ask to go to the bathroom.
- Parents should questions teachers. They went to college to become teachers. "Would you question your childs pediatrician?"

Don't mean for this to sound like a book report, but I really enjoyed reading and reflecting on these ideas.

Now, I'm reading a new book about a charter school in San Jose, aimed at getting struggling, failing students prepared for college. Even more inspiring.

Side notes: 1) I read most of Smart Kids, Bad Schools while on the eliptical at the gym. I used to make fun of people for doing this, but if you can get into the book, its almost like not working out. 2) As a teacher, I feel a lot more pressure write good...