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dlberglund's review
4.0
Very inspiring book about Geoffrey Canada, who has dedicated his career to making the kids of Harlem successful. We would probably butt heads on some educational theory, but I am in awe of his optimism and determination.
As heard on NPR (I think it was This American Life).
As heard on NPR (I think it was This American Life).
rachelb36's review
3.0
3.5 stars
Tough writes about George Canada, a former teacher who wants to transform residents of the Harlem neighborhood into middle-class Americans. He tries to do this with his nonprofit Harlem Children's Zone, offering social service-type help at various life stages, trying to connect the programs as much as possible.
While the author clearly respects and admires Canada, he seemed to me to be controlling, arrogant, and impatient. I wasn't impressed at all with the way he treated his staff or students.
Canada has a clear savior mentality and refuses to acknowledge that individuals have any control over their own situations (for example, that his teenage students have a responsibility to study in order to learn), which ultimately is disempowering, not helpful.
His dream that everyone enter the middle-class via college seemed so narrow and ignorant to me. His idea of success just isn't the same as mine, I guess.
Most of the book focuses on Promise Academy, the charter school Canada starts. His solution to poor public school performance is a lot of extra classroom time (10-12 hours a day, M-F, plus a few hours on Saturdays, which is far longer than full time jobs for adults!), and teaching to the test so that kids can "succeed" within the system. This method is incredibly soul-sucking and is a reason why I love homeschooling so much. (Less time in a classroom, more time in the 'real' world is closer to my educational philosophy.)
"Baby college," a nine-week parenting class, was a good idea. Like many people running large operations, though, Canada and his team seemed to have sketchy ideas on appropriate budgeting… I didn't get the impression that the results they saw really justified the high cost of the program.
I would have liked to hear more about the other HCZ programs, and I'd be curious to see any new stats since this book was published 12 years ago. Have these programs realized any significant results?
This was an interesting and thought provoking read mostly because I disagreed with Canada on so many things!
Tough writes about George Canada, a former teacher who wants to transform residents of the Harlem neighborhood into middle-class Americans. He tries to do this with his nonprofit Harlem Children's Zone, offering social service-type help at various life stages, trying to connect the programs as much as possible.
While the author clearly respects and admires Canada, he seemed to me to be controlling, arrogant, and impatient. I wasn't impressed at all with the way he treated his staff or students.
Canada has a clear savior mentality and refuses to acknowledge that individuals have any control over their own situations (for example, that his teenage students have a responsibility to study in order to learn), which ultimately is disempowering, not helpful.
His dream that everyone enter the middle-class via college seemed so narrow and ignorant to me. His idea of success just isn't the same as mine, I guess.
Most of the book focuses on Promise Academy, the charter school Canada starts. His solution to poor public school performance is a lot of extra classroom time (10-12 hours a day, M-F, plus a few hours on Saturdays, which is far longer than full time jobs for adults!), and teaching to the test so that kids can "succeed" within the system. This method is incredibly soul-sucking and is a reason why I love homeschooling so much. (Less time in a classroom, more time in the 'real' world is closer to my educational philosophy.)
"Baby college," a nine-week parenting class, was a good idea. Like many people running large operations, though, Canada and his team seemed to have sketchy ideas on appropriate budgeting… I didn't get the impression that the results they saw really justified the high cost of the program.
I would have liked to hear more about the other HCZ programs, and I'd be curious to see any new stats since this book was published 12 years ago. Have these programs realized any significant results?
This was an interesting and thought provoking read mostly because I disagreed with Canada on so many things!
mschlat's review against another edition
4.0
I was very impressed by the book, although that may speak more to Geoffrey Canada and his work than Paul Tough's writing.
I will highlight two aspects of Tough's work. First, he does a great job of taking the reader through the sociological history of how Americans have viewed poverty, educational achievement, and race. I learned a lot about the swings our society takes from government intervention (and the belief that our country is failing the poor) and government retraction (and the belief that poverty is a moral failing).
Second, I really appreciated Tough focusing on the dilemmas of running a middle school with Canada's philosophy. Unlike some schools, Canada was emphatic about taking all students (albeit through a lottery) and not justing picking the students with more potential. The book painfully covers the struggles of working with the "bad apple" students and Canada's insistence that changing the culture of those students is critical. Even when things don't work out, there are glimmers of hope, especially with respect to mathematics education.
I will highlight two aspects of Tough's work. First, he does a great job of taking the reader through the sociological history of how Americans have viewed poverty, educational achievement, and race. I learned a lot about the swings our society takes from government intervention (and the belief that our country is failing the poor) and government retraction (and the belief that poverty is a moral failing).
Second, I really appreciated Tough focusing on the dilemmas of running a middle school with Canada's philosophy. Unlike some schools, Canada was emphatic about taking all students (albeit through a lottery) and not justing picking the students with more potential. The book painfully covers the struggles of working with the "bad apple" students and Canada's insistence that changing the culture of those students is critical. Even when things don't work out, there are glimmers of hope, especially with respect to mathematics education.
mary412's review against another edition
3.0
Canada has decided to "save" the at-risk children in a defined geographic area in Harlem - The Harlem Children's Zone.
coreyinscoe's review against another edition
4.0
For anyone who cares anything about education, the achievement gap or poverty in America, this is absolutely a must-read. This book focuses on Geoffrey Canada, the creator of the Harlem Children's Zone, but it could be about nearly every inner-city area and school system.
Though I don't agree with every one of his decisions or ideas (his obsession with test scores and the way the school handles it really bothered me), I admire the man's determination to make sure every child in Harlem gets a good education and goes to college. Being engaged to a inner-city school teacher really made this book hit home for me. The kids that she teaches have a lot of the same problems and obstacles of the students in this book. It makes me proud of her, my parents and the many other people who fight day in and day out to educate children.
Though I don't agree with every one of his decisions or ideas (his obsession with test scores and the way the school handles it really bothered me), I admire the man's determination to make sure every child in Harlem gets a good education and goes to college. Being engaged to a inner-city school teacher really made this book hit home for me. The kids that she teaches have a lot of the same problems and obstacles of the students in this book. It makes me proud of her, my parents and the many other people who fight day in and day out to educate children.
smemmott's review against another edition
4.0
I found it both heartening and depressing to read about Geoffrey Canada and the Harlem Children's Zone. Their approach of focusing on early childhood in order to make real change in people's lives makes a lot of sense. But it's difficult to be hopeful that these programs will be replicated on a much larger scale.
I'm looking forward to reading updates in 5, 10, 15 years and more - what difference these interventions will make in the long run.
I'm looking forward to reading updates in 5, 10, 15 years and more - what difference these interventions will make in the long run.
kw04readg's review against another edition
5.0
loved this profile of the Harlem Children's Zone. not just for telling readers about the work but also about the research that went into creating the programs. made me think about what my mom did and what i am doing to help my child be a contributing member of society.
supermdguy's review
hopeful
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
Great book, just felt like it ended early. Wish I had more details
nancidrum's review against another edition
4.0
Great book focusing on education changes in America. This was factual and also page turning.
upstatelibrarygal's review
3.0
Fascinating look not just at Geoffrey Canada and education in Harlem, but at the debate about poverty and the impact on education throughout the last 50 years or so.