The Two Faces of Education: An Insider's View of School Reform

by Michael I. Allen

Here, Michael Allen, focuses on the personal and social issues (anti-social behavior, peer pressure, sex, special education, and lack of parent involvement) that students bring to school each day, which impacts their education. In this book, the author examines how administrators and teachers can wade through the psycho/social dysfunction in order to give their students the survival skills they need to become successful. The Two faces of Education: An Insider's View of School Reform teaches educators how to identify and protect themselves against the common pitfalls found in schools with diverse student bodies where underlying philosophical and social differences can unexpectedly aggravate tensions that can be transmitted from one student, to many. Based on real-life stories, this book takes a hard and poignant, yet often humorous, look at a different side of education, presenting a fresh perspective on the challenges of school reform by remembering who educators are there to serve_the students.

140 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2006

Reviews

[Shannon Savory]

I am in graduate school currently and a professor recommending this book. I was unsure it would be something I was going to find entertaining, but I actually truly enjoyed this book. The why it was written was far from dry. I learned so many lessons that are important to my teaching career. We can only be prepared to a certain point, a lot of teaching/administrating is done with the best of intentions, with what is at our disposal at time. It is a learning process. I had a hard time putting it down, many times I said I will only read one story before heading to bed, then 3 stories later I would think ok one more story... this obviously did not work well and I spent more time reading then sleeping.
I think this book is a great choice for teachers and administrates but also anyone working with children.