Customer Reviews

From Rage to Hope: Strategies for Reclaiming Black & Hispanic Students

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

As an inner city school educator, I encourage all teachers to read this eye opening book. I had a chance to hear the author in person. She has a story to tell. You leave her feeling that you can change the world. The book is easy to read and if you are like me you will pick it up again and again. I learned a lot. I refer to it often. It is informative and provides the reader with some actual things one can do in the classroom. Several other teachers have read it also. Their comment is "The book has really helped". It will be a part of our professional development program this school year.

This book is a must read for teachers. It should be required of teachers teaching students of color. I have used this books with my college students and it has helped them to understand a lot about the present problem of the academic achievement gap and how to turn it around.

Anyone who cannot see the value of this book, has little understanding of the problem and potential solutions.

The intention of this book is irrefutably admirable. The author aims to equip educators to more effectively reach minority students; she seeks to address the inequality that prevails in education systems across the nation. However, the book is nothing more than a compilation of common sense tips and biased commentary. The author does little but offer her opinions. I find it hard to accept the credibility of an author who continually references herself and quotes Tupac.

As an educator, I do not believe that race should ever even factor into the equation. Educators should seek to understand each child and to try to serve each individual student to the best of their ability. They should seek to know as much as possible about the ways that students learn, the homes from which they come, and the situations surrounding them at all times. They should try to bridge the gap between home life and school life as much as possible so that students are set up for success. This should happen regardless of the students' gender, race, socioeconomic status, academic abilities, or any other considerable factor. From that mindset, books such as this that address race issues in the classroom, become immaterial. It is the duty of a professional educator to act in this way and to demonstrate support and equity towards all students.

Overall I would say this book is both practical and inspirational. She delicately puts into print truths that many of us would never admit and dispenses advice to reverse those negative ones.

However, I was a little disappointed about how many times she said that it is unfortunate that many teachers are white, middle-class, females because Hispanic and Black students will not be able to relate to them very well. I also slightly resented the number of times she said that we must recruit more male teachers, especially black. I'm sorry but these two points make me, a white middle-class female, feel discouraged about even TRYING to reach Hispanic or Black students. I mean, why try when obviously a man could do a better job than me, and my race means I am too inadequate to teach children of color? I think she is probably well-intentioned, but these statements in themselves seem racist and gender-biased. If she, and other similarly-minded people, think racism and gender bias are wrong and should be eliminated, she should avoid such statements.

This book is a must read for educators and those interested in the future of education for everyone. Not only is the author gifted in her presentation but also a fantastic speaker.

This has got to be one of the most ridiculous books ever written about education. God forbid that we try and teach children to subscribe to cultural norms. The idiot who wrote this book apparently thinks we should instead teach them to embrace a culture that will not help them to succeed in life outside the educational system. I'm sorry, speaking Ebonics isn't going to help you get a job, dressing like a gang banger isn't going to do you any favors either. Don't waste your time on this garbage.