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A review by coreyinscoe
Whatever It Takes: Geoffrey Canada's Quest to Change Harlem and America by Paul Tough
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.