What Schools Can Be: A Guide for Educators

In What School Can Be Ackerly shows the elements of school culture necessary for delivering good education. For more than a century, “blue ribbon” task forces have been formed to improve America’s public schools. Most of these efforts have failed because of mistaken notions about education and a failure to understand children. Education is not just curriculum, standards, and textbooks. It is the culture of the school, and the culture of American schools hasn’t changed much. Ackerly’s stories of teachers, students, and principals at work show what can be accomplished when good educational cultures are applied.

Table of Contents:
TABLE OF CONTENTS PrefaceIntroductionDon’t Get Mad; Get CreativeThank You for Criticizing Arrogance is a Learning DisabilityIn Education Failure IS an OptionMeasure What MattersThe Culture We Create is Visible in Everything We Do.First Grade Teacher Designs a Learning OrganizationA Leadership Culture is Obvious to AllReal Authority Brings out the Authority in Others Don’t Teach Empathy. Teach ThoughtfulnessA Culture with the Soul of CreativityConflict Aversion is also a Learning Disability.Conflict is the Crucible of CharacterConflict is Required for Creating CharacterTreat Kids As If Social Responsibility is a Natural Act To Get Results, Schools Must be in the Friendship BusinessHome Schooling is an OxymoronThe “Soft,” “Non-cognitive Skills” are Hard, Cognitive and Learned in CommunitySocial Deprivation Causes Cognitive DeprivationPerfectionism is Another DisabilityStaying out of Trouble is not a Worthy MissionThe Need to Contribute is a Childish Impulse Building an Organization on the Need to ContributeDiversity: The Solution, Not the ProblemAuthority that Brings Out the Authority in Others Teacher Authority, Boundaries and the Business of School Authority, Imperfection and Behavior ProblemsTrue Authority Leaves Room for others to Exercise Their AuthorityIntegrity: Bringing Your Whole Self to the TableIn Times of Crisis the Nomenclature Must be Changed Appendix: Counter-Cultural Habits, Mores and Myths Essential Skills in Learning OrganizationsMores of Learning Communities New Myths for Educational Cultures

About the Author :
Rick Ackerly is a nationally recognized educator and speaker with 45 years of experience working in and for schools. With a Master’s in Education from Harvard, he served as head of five schools and, today, speaks to parent and school groups across the country.

Review :
As a parent at one of Rick’s schools, my children and I had the benefit of his wisdom and unique perspective on education and childrearing. For about a decade, I listened to Rick, awed by his ability to conceptualize abstract concepts of social, emotional, and academic theory, and distill them down to messages that resonated with preschoolers and grandparents alike. Through the pages of this book, that experience can belong to everyone. Every reader will be a better parent, a better teacher and a better person when they’ve finished this book. Ranging far and wide through fields and streams of wisdom, humor, philosophy, and psychology; drawing deeply from one man’s lifetime spent understanding, adjusting, repairing, and relishing schools and children; and brilliantly combining the elements of his experience into arresting insight after insight, Rick Ackerly brings forth this magnificent summing-up, as profound and entertaining an autobiographical treasury as you’ll ever find. This book is a must-read, not only for educators and parents, but for anyone who interacts with others. Rick draws on his tremendous experience working with youth to give us a different perspective on what it means to be human. So often, we see situations from a lens that is limiting. The stories that Rick shares offer us the opportunity to broaden that view to become more empathetic and productive in all of our relationships. With humor, kindness, and clarity, Rick Ackerly continues his lifelong advocacy for effective schools. In this entertaining, easily accessible book of educational philosophy, Rick uses his delightful storytelling to illustrate the attitude of respect and optimism essential to effectively educate children in the modern world. Having had the privilege of working with Rick off and on for 35 years, I can tell you the stories are true and the methods work.