Customer Reviews

If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?

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I just finished reading this expose and was quite impressed with the author's writing style. The cabal which formed to thwart John's efforts at GHS obviously felt threatened when a qualified "outsider" arrived with a passion to deliver a quality education to all students. Most appalling was the failure of the school administrators and the Board of Education to offer even minimal support in dealing with the frivolous grievances. The problems which John encountered are not endemic to just Appalachia, but in all our school systems. Unfortunately, nothing has changed in Grant County. All one needs to do is read about the town council meetings or the Board of Education meetings in the local newspaper. Factionalism and petty jealousies are rampant. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme chose!

After reading "If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?", I can begin to understand how the fiber of our communities can so easily crumble. The book, though well written and humorous at times, is a sad commentary on what happens when leaders of our schools and communities are not made of "gold". One man's struggle can make a difference. I found the bok thought-provoking and will worth the read.

This book is a great account of why many of our children are no longer receiving a first rate education. After reading If Gold Rust..., I understand how education in many areas is controlled by politically motivated individuals who rob our children of a first rate education while furthering their own ambitions. Through John's eyes, we learn all about the sordid details of how many individuals masquarade as educators as they actually destroy the learning process in the name of quality education. As I read If Gold Rust...I laughed and I cried. I, like John, hope that his gauntlet will be uplifted and remembered, so that future generations will never be forced to ask; "If gold rust, what will iron do?"

Reading "If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?" was a real eye-opener into the often hidden agendas of people who use children/schools to maintain their political power. Unfortunately, most people are unaware of this impact on public education and local governments. If the "Gold" in Grant County, WV is one-tenth as rusted as the author reveals, everyone has something to fear.

If I had been a student during the time of John's tenure described in "If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?", I would have been more than outraged. No teacher or union has the right to deny any student a quality education as they did at GHS. Outrage isn't even close in describing what those so-called educators did to their students and to John. Whatever happened to the days when an educator such as John was the rule, rather than the exception?

I found this to be a great book and well worth the read. I have often wondered what goes on in a typical classroom. If the Grant County classrooms portrayed in "If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?" are examples of "student-oriented, quality education," then we all need to become involved in the educational process. This book describes classrooms where students are left unattended, where teachers use foul language during their seldom held instructional time, and where teachers are too busy tending to their WVEA political agenda to teach. And all of this was done in the name of "student-oriented, quality education." Every parent, teacher, and board of education candidate should be required to read "If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do?" America can no longer afford to serve political agendas in the name of quality education. It is time for politics and personalities to be banned from our children's classrooms and our children's needs to once again be placed first. "If Gold Rust,..." let me see that although billions of dollars are thrown away annually on new ways to "improve" education we still see the vast failures of our schools. The author truly lets us know it is time for everyone, especially Grant County, to wake up!

If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do? explains why children often do not receive the education they deserve. I liked this book because it offered more than just theory to explain the needs and ills of our educational system. The book actually describes classroom situations that caused me to cringe in disbelief. This book should be required reading for every parent, teacher, tax payer, and future teacher in America. If Gold Rust, What Will Iron Do? caused me to reflect and ponder the true reason why Sally and Johnny can't read and why test scores are dropping. This is a book to read and reread and ponder and share.

This book is a great account of why many of our children are no longer receiving a first rate education. After reading If Gold Rust...., I understand how education in many areas is controlled by politically motivated individuals who rob our children of a first rate education while furthering their own political ambitions. Through John's eyes, we learn all about the sordid details of how many individuals masquerade as educators as they actually destroy the learning process in the name of quality education. As I read If God Rust...., I laughed and I cried. I, like the character John, hope that his gauntlet will be uplifted and remembered, so that future generations will never be forced to ask; If gold rust, what will iron do?"˙

I am a former student of Grant County Schools and I am outraged at the contents of this book.

This book made me speculate about the educational system which America once loved and cherished. How could an educational system designed for the student be so savagely turned into a political scheme at the expense of the students? If Gold Rust,What Will Iron Do? will make an extraordinary movie. Not only does it have a message that needs to be told, but it also brings forth enough emotion to fill the silver screen and rivet one's attention.