I’m so pleased that Choices is part of the promo party for D.A. Russell’s book Lifting the Curtain: The disgrace we call urban high school education. See below for details about how you can join the party and win a copy of this expose on how well-meaning ideas have hurt education. Please take a look at this eye-opening teaser chapter.
Good Intentions Gone Wrong
A teaser chapter from Lifting the Curtain
by D.A. Russell
Nothing has hurt education more over the past decades than the unintended consequences of well-meaning ideas. Of all the problems facing schools today, this is far and away the most deadly issue. I suspect that had I the opportunity to personally know the individuals who authored many of the individuals who authored many of the federal and state education programs of the past 20 years, I would truly admire and respect those who came up with such a wonderful concept “No Child Left Behind.” That phrase, in four short words, encapsulates everything I believe about teaching. I enthusiastically supported NCLB when it was launched. Even with 20/20 hindsight, based upon what I envisioned then I would still be an enthusiastic supporter of the NCLB concept.
But it turns out that I was wrong. Horribly wrong. The real impact of these programs has been to undermine a student’s personal effort and accountability, degrade educational success, and hold teachers responsible for many factors largely out of their control.
Despite twenty years of well-meaning programs, and trillions of dollars spent, education in 2013 is worse than at any time in our history. In 2013, both ACT and SAT testing services reported that most high school graduates were not prepared for college and that does not even include all those students who never applied to college.
Instead of the lofty goals of those who crafted NCLB and related programs, the direct impacts that started to appear in the years after enactment were horribly destructive.
Find out what the unintended consequences have been to our well-intentioned policies and how they are hurting our children! Please visit Lifting the Curtain at http://liftingthecurtain.com/.
About the Author:
D.A. Russell has spent the last ten years as a math teacher in one of the urban high schools used as an example in Lifting the Curtain. He is an honors graduate of Dartmouth College, and received his master’s degree from Simon School, where he was valedictorian of his class. Russell is a decorated Vietnam veteran. He has two children that he treasures, and four grandchildren. His son is a police officer who served in the US Army in Afghanistan, earning a Bronze Star for valor. His daughter is a lawyer and his most passionate fan and honorary literary agent.
Russell has taught and coached children for decades. Few things are more important in his view than to cherish the children who are our real treasures in this world.
About the Book:
Title: Lifting the Curtain: The disgrace we call urban high school education
Author: D.A. Russell
Illustrator: Jessica Fitzpatrick
Genre: Non-Fiction
Hashtag: #liftcurtain
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lifting-Curtain-disgrace-school-education/dp/0615939171/
Author’s Websites:
Website: http://liftingthecurtain.com/
Blog: http://liftingthecurtainoneducation.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LiftingTheCurtainOnEducation
Win a copy of Lifting the Curtain either hard copy or Kindle Edition, winner’s choice!
To enter the giveaway, go to the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/LiftingTheCurtainOnEducation. There are other prizes to win! If you have a blog or other social media site you can join our promo party. For more details visit Sign Up Genius at: www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0548A8A82DA2FF2-lifting
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Great Post!
Thanks, Robyn. And thanks for the opportunity to showcase Don’s book.
One of the last classes I took in college focused on the urban high school situation and you are absolutely right that it is a disgrace. How can we expect kids to overcome their situations if we put them in terrible schools? The education system is a shame.
Sebastian, I hope more people like you who are aware of our shameful education programs will speak out so that we can do something to solve this problems. Let’s keep this conversation going.
Yeah it is sad. I think it happens because of how individualistic our culture is and how it is all about coming out first. People don’t want to make a small sacrifice that will help improve our education systems. Instead, so many people are worried about hoarding their money and not being compassionate and caring to their fellow man.
Now I am just not negative. I understand that America is one of the best countries in the world to live in and we have a lot of amazing things. We aren’t perfect, but we can improve a lot of things.
Sebastian, I also think it’s about the rich versus the poor. The rich can afford to send their children to private schools so why should they care about the other 99% who can’t? Education is just another of the things to fall by the wayside in the struggle between the haves and the have nots.
That is a very valid point. I saw a study somewhere that said the rich tend to have less empathy than people who are less fortunate.
Thanks so much, Don.