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I Got Schooled: The Unlikely Story Of How A Moonlighting Movie Maker Learned The Five Keys To Closing America's Education Gap (2013)

by M. Night Shyamalan(Favorite Author)

3.5 of 5 Votes: 1

ISBN

1476716471 (ISBN13: 9781476716473)

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

Simon & Schuster

review 1: Without a doubt the best anything that I've ever read on school reform because the five key elements that the author identifies as critical to increasing academic achievement, which correlate to evidence-based research. You will be surprised at the results and the bewitching of cognitive biases that is often at the root of politically motivated educational reform. I will mention the five keys but keep in mind that your preconceived biases will be challenged: no roadblock teachers, school leadership, feedback, manageable size schools, and more classroom time. How research plays out on this will surprise you.He clearly states we have two school systems in this country that cannot be viewed in the same light without taking into consideration income of parents, poverty levels... more among a school population, home environment, and parental involvement in summer enrichment for their child. The author exposes so many myths that are now driving educational reform. It always goes back to what is your evidence. Every parent, teacher, administrator, community leader, school board member should be required to read this before making changes to increase academic achievement!
review 2: I can't say enough good things about this book. I checked it out from the library, but now I'm buying my own copy so I can make notes in it. Yes, I'm a librarian who occasionally says it is okay to write in books (if you own them). Shyamalan spent four years and a great deal of time and money investigating the achievement gap that so many of us, both educators and lay people, constantly hear about, worry about, and wonder about. He traveled to schools he discovered were getting it right, he talked to people, he hired some of the best researchers to review the literature. He moved from becoming a concerned citizen to becoming an advocate for giving all of our children the best shot at a bright future. Not just the kids in his circle, where paying for the best private schooling is no big deal, but the poorest children in our nation, who never seem to get ahead no matter how many government mandates are created, how many school districts are threatened with closure if they don't improve achievement, and how many teachers burn out after less than three years of pushing themselves and their students to limits beyond our imagination. What Shyamalan discovered is that there is NO single quick fix for education, which most of us in education realize. Instead, there is a system that must be in place to ensure ALL children reach their academic potential despite poverty, despite their parents' educational achievement, despite the odds. He discovered that not only can it be done, it is being done all over our nation. So, why isn't everyone on board? Well, read the book and you'll discover why. Because there are some harsh realities we as educators, parents, and citizens must face. Sometimes you have to step on toes, make drastic changes, remove ineffective teachers, spend money ensuring students get a level playing field through after school and summer programs, and perhaps hire more people to be operations managers at the school level so the principal can do what he or she should be doing...focusing on instruction rather than how many toner cartridges are on campus and how many teachers have the flu. Shyamalan is witty, real, and honest. He makes no bones about being rather self-centered and self-absorbed, which I doubt given the massive effort he put into research for this book. I think he is a true philanthropist who realizes that making education better for those kids who are struggling makes everyone's life better. These kids are our future care-takers and wage earners. Do we really want them to fail? Be warned, you may feel he is very much pro-charter, because a lot of the schools where he found this "just right" system in place or in development were charter schools. However, he lets you know, if you are paying attention, that he isn't pro-charter or pro-anything EXCEPT pro-child. It just so happens that the few charters doing it right are using the system he and his researchers found works best. He went out of his way to find this same thing in public schools as well, just to prove anyone could (and should) see these type results. He also reminds us that 98% of education is still traditional public schools and only about 2% is charters or other situations. He also points out that most of the kids who benefit from charters and other settings are usually NOT the ones who need the most help in the first place. Those kids are in public schools within walking or busing distance from their homes, or they wouldn't even be able to go to school at all. Read the book. Everyone should. It might make you angry, tired, or even a bit defeated, but it is well worth the read. Changes can be made if the right people read and share this information. All of the research is well documented, and the book contains a list of 50 schools he found to be making great strides. The book also includes a comprehensive bibliography. Did I mention how much I liked this book? less

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