Class Warfare: Inside the Fight to Fix America's Schools

Whitney Tilson's, blog is currently one of my favorites. Possibly because he floods my inbox with articles, youtube videos, interviews, and all things ed reform. Last week he told everyone to read Brills' new book and offered to send a free copy to anyone who couldn't afford to purchase it. I'm in! Yay for pleasure reading that is relevant to everything I'm doing as an educator.

Here's an excerpt from the WSJ review by Joel Klein:

"Class Warfare," by Steven Brill, is an extremely well-reported survey of the modern reform movement that is likely to have a big impact and will appeal to a wide audience. "Special Interest," by Terry M. Moe, is a carefully researched analysis of the power dynamics underlying today's policy disputes. Mr. Brill, a celebrated media entrepreneur and longtime journalist, takes us on a breezy journey through the education-reform landscape, written with a storyteller's page-turning magic; Mr. Moe, a political scientist, offers a painstaking study, also compelling if less fast-paced.

Mr. Brill opens with a quick visit to the Oval Office early in the Obama administration, where the new president commits himself to an aggressive reform agenda. "Just make sure," he says to his advisers, "that we don't poke the unions in the eye with this." The bulk of "Class Warfare" is a series of vignettes of reformers and traditionalists, and of struggling schools they are fighting to save.

Read the indignant response from education historian and ed reform opponent Dr. Diane Ravitch to Simon and Schuster Inc. Their response to her accusations can be found here.

The Essential Writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson

This friend and neighbor of Bronson Alcott was also a fellow Transcendentalist.  Emerson is one of America's most beloved philosophers.

Walden; or Life in the Woods

Henry David Thoreau's take on nature and independence. This naturalist philosopher was another study-buddy of Bronson Alcott's.

An Old Fashioned Girl

Polly leaves her quiet country home to explore the foreign world of city life. While her wealthy cousins the Shaws welcome her into their existence, Polly wrestles to find the balance between the simplicity of her heritage and the new opportunities her cousins offer.

Rose in Bloom

Rose and Uncle Alex are back from their tour abroad. But the littler girl that her seven "cousins"  remember is gone forever. A winsome young woman has taken her place. Rose does not know what to do with the new attention she is receiving from her dear friends turned suitors.

Eight Cousins

Rose is a dainty 13-yr. orphan under the care of two coddling aunts. Then Uncle Alex, her true legal guardian, comes back from his travels around the world. Uncle Alex is appalled by Rose's pale demeanor and quiet manners. He assumes care and attempts to nurture her into a strong, healthy, educated young woman. His approach entails adventures to far away places and allowing Rose to play with her seven energetic male "cousins" (not blood related).  Uncle Alex's views on raising women seem outlandish to Rose's Aunts, but Rose begins to shine under new regimen.

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Jo's Boys

The Little Men and their respective sisters are full grown. The saga continues as the boys set-out around the world, embracing their young adult status. The book follows the individual adventures of the young men such as getting lost at sea, rising to fame and falling into poverty abroad, experiencing first love, and finally returning to share their stories at Plumfield. 

Little Men

The March girls are grown and raising their own children. Jo and the hubs Professor Bhaer started a school for boys...or little men. Plumfield is unlike any other boarding school; newcomer Nat Blake quickly discovers that learning at this school expands beyond the books. Through daring adventures, Nat realizes that he is among family.

Little Women

Little Women follows the story of the March family, particularly the March girls. It's an ageless commentary on life in community. Enough said. The rest of this post is about the author and the real historical figures behind the characters in the book.

Louisa May Alcott has long been my favorite author. That being said, Pride and Prejudice is still my favorite book : ). Ms. Alcott will always remain my primary inspiration, which is why I had to carve time on my trip up for a visit to Orchard House (the setting of Little Women and the Alcott family home)!!!

The Alcott's were change agents. Mr. A's radical education methods, such as physical exercise and inquiry learning have now been embraced as best practice. Mrs. A. was the first paid social worker in Boston; May (or Amy in LW) was a world famous artist who mentored America's favorite sculptor; and Louisa continues to influence the lives of children around the world with her timeless literature.

A few things I noticed from touring the home:
+Intentionality around meal time: Family discussions were based on individual journaling throughout the day.
+Reflection as mode of living: Everyone in the family kept a journal from a young age.
+Structure: The daily schedule accounted for every minute.
+Moral: The Alcotts were staunch and vocal abolitionists.
+Outdoors: the house blends into the woods around it. Concord and the rest of civilization fades away the moment you step on the property.
+Relationship as a way of understanding: Mr. A spent hours with Thoreau and Emerson in his study. Friends were constantly streaming through the Alcott home.
+Individualism: Each child was encouraged to pursue their passion. May drew all over the walls of her room, Anna performed in local plays, and Louisa wrote her book from a tiny desk that her father built for her in her bedroom.

+Hope: The underlying message of their devotion to hard work and effort was that change is possible, life is worth living, and truth must be told.

"It looks just like the movie!!!"

The Quran

Today is the first day of Ramadan. It seems fitting to include Islam's holy book. This English-only copy is a new translation by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan.

"All praise is due to God, the Lord of the Universe; the Beneficent, the Merciful; Lord of the Day of Judgement. you alone we worship, and to You alone we turn for help. Guide us to the straight path."
 - Sura 1