How does a history-loving ex-journalist get working-class seventh graders in the Ozarks to care about Charlemagne? As a second-career teacher, David Awbrey has a lot to learn—and a lot to teach readers.
Joanne Jacobs, former journalist; author of Our School: The Inspiring Story of Two Teachers, One Big Idea and the Charter School That Beat the This is a ... Read moregreat story—seasoned newspaper man takes up teaching social studies. Right off, David Awbrey brings education ideas and debates squarely upon the place where they really matter, his low-income middle-school students in Springfield, Missouri.Each act of instruction has to cope with the vicious mockery and merciless stereotyping of youth culture and school mores. Awbrey brings USA Today into the room only to hear one kid grumble, I don't just hate newspapers; I hate reading. Another one tosses the sports page aside and mutters, I can see it on ESPN's Sports Center. He has a student read a sentence describing monks copying ancient manuscripts, but she can only summarize it as Some guys are copying something with some kind of thingy. He opens a map of Europe and points at France as one quips, Isn't it true that all the French are gay? He tells them, half a world away kids your age are studying night and day to beat you, but they gaze back with expressions that impart, Yeh, yeh. Blah,blah, blah. So what? He tells them, Don't have children before age twenty-one, and one replies, But my cousin is fifteen and she has twins and she's doing fine. These surly, jaded, suffering, and semi-literate youths are tougher to handle than al
Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future In A Journalist's Education in the Classroom, David Awbrey pens an eye-opening account into the inner workings of American education through the eyes of a middle school history teacher. His energetic, tautly written narrative provides a humbling account of what it takes to engage and educate today’s students, and a cautionary tale for those who think improving America’s schools is simple work. This is a book that parents and policymakers would do well to read.
Rick Hess, resident scholar and director of Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute This is one of the unique, insightful books I've read in the last 40 years about the reality of public education. With humor, humility and honesty, Awbrey draws on his experience as an award winning educational journalist, classroom teacher, and state department of education official. He is neither politically correct nor pompous, despite the fact that he knows far more than most people writing about education. Every prospective teacher, education journalist and College of Education professor who reads this will learn a lot about what's wrong, and what can be done to improve public schools.
Joe Nathan, PhD, director, Center for School Change Unlike most "what I learned by teaching school" books, David Awbrey's is beautifully written, uncommonly perceptive and extraordinarily sensible in diagnosing what ails public education in the U.S. and how to cure it.
Chester E. Finn Jr., senior fellow, Hoover Institution; Stanford University and president, Thomas B. Fordham Institute This is a great story—"seasoned newspaper man takes up teaching social studies." Right off, David Awbrey brings education ideas and debates squarely upon the place where they really matter, his low-income middle-school students in Springfield, Missouri. Each act of instruction has to cope with the vicious mockery and merciless stereotyping of youth culture and school mores. Awbrey brings USA Today into the room only to hear one kid grumble, "I don't just hate newspapers; I hate reading." Another one tosses the sports page aside and mutters, "I can see it on ESPN's Sports Center." He has a student read a sentence describing monks copying ancient manuscripts, but she can only summarize it as "Some guys are copying something with some kind of thingy." He opens a map of Europe and points at France as one quips, "Isn't it true that all the French are gay?" He tells them, "half a world away kids your age are studying night and day to beat you," but they gaze back with expressions that impart, "Yeh, yeh. Blah, blah, blah. So what?" He tells them, "Don't have children before age twenty-one," and one replies, "But my cousin is fifteen and she has twins and she's doing fine." These surly, jaded, suffering, and semi-literate youths are tougher to handle than all the politicians, CEOs, athletes, crooks, and cops Awbrey covered while working as reporter and editor from Omaha to Burlington. They form the unique value of this book. Many education writers have never worked the front lines, standing alone before 25 resistant minds. Awbrey did it, making his sober judgments about the ills of public schooling authoritative and sound. Read it.
Mark Bauerlein, author of The Dumbest Generation: How the Digital Age Stupefies Young Americans and Jeopardizes Our Future This extraordinarily well-written book serves as a searing reminder of the challenges implicit in a teacher's life, especially at the middle school level.
Education Next: Journal of Opinion And Research
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