"So many books, so little time . . ."

Ellen writes: "In my second year of being on the school board of the Mountain View-Whisman School District I finally had time to spend more time satisfying my life-long love of reading. While I love reading a good mystery story or biography, I am still fascinated with books about education and child development, so I usually alternate among all these styles.

In this section I will list and very briefly describe education and child development books that I have read lately. Note that I often read a book just to be aware of what an important author has written, or to be aware of a thesis that is being presented that is getting a lot of attention in the education and child development communities. I invite you to email me with your comments about these books and the ideas they present, and to recommend books to me." (ellenforschoolboard@yahoo.com)

[1] No Excuses: Closing the Racial Gap in Learning, by Abigail Thernstrom and Stephan Thernstrom, Simon and Schuster, 2003.

These educators present much data and good argument for the "No Excuses" education philosophy we have all heard so much about. (The No Excuses movement criticizes the excuses that many schools make about why their school doesn’t have high test scores. [Too many ESL kids, too many special ed. kids, too many low income kids, etc. etc. etc.] It promotes the idea that rigorous curriculum, high standards, expectations that every child can succeed, and ability to teach beyond simple standards make a huge difference in the academic success of students and schools.)

[2] Final Test – The Battle for Adequacy in America’s Schools, by Peter Schrag, W.W. Norton and Co., 2003.

This author has written about education for more than 40 years, and writes for The Sacramento Bee. He gives an in-depth analysis of the "adequacy movement," a plan that has been touted in California lately. (The Adequacy Movement promotes the idea of determining what amount of money is "adequate" to do a good job of teaching an average student, adding some amount of money for teaching a non-average student [special ed.? GATE? ESL?], and giving schools that amount of money.)

[3] Making Schools Work – A Revolutionary Plan to Get Your Children the Education They Need, by William G. Ouchi, Simon and Schuster, 2003.

Professor Ouchi teaches management at UCLA and has studied and endorses the school movement that promotes the idea that schools should be directly given the money they need to serve their students, with schools meant to be unique in their philosophy. Parents choose which school leader and school type best suits their child, resulting in schools that are competitive for students and dollars. This bottom-up funding with school management styles is the "revolutionary style" referred to in the subtitle. Compare this to the top-down (via state or district) funding and management style that is prevalent today. Professor Ouchi caught the attention of Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riorden, who now has Gov. Schwartzenneger’s ear. Hmmm.

[4] A Framework for Understanding Poverty, by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D, aha! Process, inc., 2001.

Dr. Payne presents a useful description and analysis of the sociology of children of poverty, and of the middle and upper classes. Many MVWSD teachers and staff have read this book.

[5] Teaching Gifted Kids in the Regular Classroom – Strategies and Techniques Every Teacher Can Use to Meet the Academic Needs of the Gifted and Talented, By Susan Winebrenner, free spirit publishing, 2001.

Ms. Winebrenner is a former teacher who presents lots of useful information on how to differentiate instruction for GATE students, as well as how to identify GATE students. Again, many MVWSD teachers and schools use this book.

[6] Raising Cain – Protecting the Emotional Lives of Boys, by Daniel J. Kindlon, Ph.D. and Michael Thompson, Ph.D., Ballentine Books, 1999.

These two psychologists who do work at private boys schools in the Boston area make compelling arguments for doing what we can to encourage boys to stay emotionally expressive.

What I’m reading right now:

• What Does It Mean to be Well Educated? by Alfie Kohn, Beacon Press, 2004

• The Schools Our Children Deserve – Moving Beyond Classrooms and "Traditional Standards," by Alfie Kohn, Houghton Mifflin Co., 1999.

(and My Life by Bill Clinton)