Push Has Come to Shove: Getting Our Kids the Education They Deserve--Even If It Means Picking a Fight

I was trolling streaming talk radio stations to see what ideas were being discussed on the "other" side of the political/social fence. I hit on a station in the middle of an interview with a direct, poised yet passionate voice for education transformation. The blunt yet courteous guest was not being led by the interviewer, but stayed on his point that our public educational system is failing. I was wide eared as there was little tap-dancing around, or qualifying in the guests implication of unions as a significant part of the problem. I had to dig a little in the stations programming schedule to get the guest's name - Dr Steve Perry.That led me to Push Has Come to Shove, which Ive just completed. Dr Perry strikes me as sincere in his concern for education. There are sections of the book that are personal and introspective. This is not a an expose of educational horror stories, although it has some of that. Nor is it a social fantasy of some idealistic educational utopia, although Dr Perry has some ambitious goals I wonder if public education can ever achieve. It is, for me, a call to action.The book has challenged me to reconsider if we the people can change the course of public education. Dr Perry challenges us to not accept failure as the new success. I wont be starting my own magnet school as Dr. Perry & his team have, but I can make sure I know who and what I'm voting for. I can make more of an effort to attend school activities, and make sure my opinions are respectfully made known. If I believe our public education system is necessary, important, and broken (I do), and I acknowledge that I as a member of the public am responsible, then I must assume a role in its repair.

This book provokes pro-active parents who are serious about their children's success to fight to raise the standard of education for all children. I was very disturbed to learn that teachers mock and scoff the deprived parents behind their backs. I applaud Dr. Perry for taking a stance to raise the standard of education for our children by creating a structured environment that's conducive to learning, which ultimately help to develop the overall well-being of our children with the inception of a private institution.

Steve Perry is a force of nature working to make American education what it can and must be: Engaging, dynamic, relevant and successful. He has the courage to challenge every aspect of our inherited system--starting with the length of the school-day and year--and every assumption about what might be done to improve the classroom experience--like pouring money into teacher training while promoting talentless people who don't belong in front of children in the first place. His solutions are based on clarity of purpose and attention to every moment of the teacher-student dialogue. His challenge to the established teachers unions--who care more about seniority and tenure than about children learning--is devastatingly moral. Today's failed education is a moral wrong. Tomorrow's education--following Steve Perry's coldly candid vision--can be a thrilling and successful enterprise for kids, families, and the nation.Claude Singer -- brandsinger

This is a great book and should be required reading for anyone who works for the school districts as it promotes changes in how our society views education and how to turn revolutionary ideas into reality. The only reason that I gave the book 4 stars instead of 5 is because there were some gaps not addressed in the book that miss a big portion of the children in school.

Push Has Come to Shove is written in a very easily understood fashion and helps a parent to choose the school most likely to educate his/her child. I think so highly of the book that i gave it to a friend of mine who is a teacher and wants to start her own school to assure that some children get the education they deserve.

This book is absolutely outstanding! It's a raw, uncut look at the state of public education in the U.S. from the perspective of someone I consider to be an educator of educators and school administrators. Whether one has a child in the public education system or not, this book is an excellent read for those concerned about the state of public education in the U.S.

If you are a teacher or in education of any sort this book is a must read. Dr. Perry shows his love for students in every chapter. It has totally changed my mind about why Johnny can't read. Maybe the problem IS the teacher, not the student. Interesting spin on sending ALL children to college and how to do it.

I'm torn by a lot if Perry's ideas, some contradict some that I've held and heard for a long time. But he certainly challenges things with passion and experience, enough so that I need to re-think some of what I believe.