Wall Of Fame: One Teacher, One Class, and the Power to Save Schools and Transform Lives [Paperback]

Jonathan Freedman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2, 2000

As public education declined many Americans despaired of their children's future, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Jonathan Freedman volunteered as a writing mentor in some of California's toughest inner-city schools. He discovered a program called AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) that gave him hope. In this work of creative non-fiction, Mr. Freedman interweaves the lives of AVID's founder, Mary Catherine Swanson, and six of her original AVID students over a 20-year period, from 1980-2000. With powerful personalities, explosive conflicts, and compelling action, Wall of Fame portrays the dramatic story of how one teacher in one classroom created a pragmatic program that has propelled thousands of students to college. This story of determination, courage, and hope inspires a new generation of teachers, students, and parents to fight for change from the bottom up.

It will be possible to learm more about AVID and the Wall of Fame from the September 25th issue of Time magazine and upcoming segments of Oxygen and perhaps 60 Minutes II.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A wonderful book about a true American heroine, Mary Catherine Swanson, who developed the AVID program..." -- Gene I Maeroff, Director, Hechinger Institute on Education and Media at Columbia University

"For thoughtfulness, fairness, and an unslackable drive to be a solution oriented journalist, I admire few reporters more than Freedman." -- Colman McCarthy, 1999 Washington Post

"Real life, real education-a story that demonstrates the power of teaching, learning, and commitment." -- Sandra McBrayer, 1994 National Teacher of the Year

About the Author

Jonathan Freedman has received many honors for his editorials and books, including a Pulitzer Prize for Distinguished Editorial Writing and the Distinguished Service Medal from the Society of Professional Journalists. Esquire magazine included Mr. Freedman in its special Hero Nation issue, honoring his work as a writing mentor of inner-city students.

Mr. Freedman graduated cum laude from Columbia College, where he was awarded the Cornell Woolrich Writing Award. At age 23, he began his writing career as an Associated Press reporter in Brazil. In his thirties, he worked as an editorial writer and columnist for the San Diego Tribune. Freedman's Pulizter Prize-winning editorials were instrumental in the passage of the U.S. Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, including an historic amnesty that brought more than two million undocumented workers out of hiding. He is the author of the critically acclaimed non-fiction book From Cradle to Grave: The Human Face of Poverty in America, and has published freelance columns in the New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, Los Angles Times, and the San Diego Union-Tribune.

Product Details

• Paperback: 409 pages
• Publisher: Avid Academic Press (October 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0970077300
• ISBN-13: 978-0970077301
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #237,116 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Good News For Education!, September 25, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wall Of Fame: One Teacher, One Class, and the Power to Save Schools and Transform Lives (Paperback)

This book is a pleasure to read. I'm working toward becoming a high school teacher and this book really inspired me. The book is about a program called AVID, which is a class in middle school and high school. The program started some 20 years ago and has consistently sent over 90% of its students to college! Good stuff!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational!, October 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Wall Of Fame: One Teacher, One Class, and the Power to Save Schools and Transform Lives (Paperback)

Wall of Fame gives us hope in the ebbs and flows of education reform. It is about a program that really works, created by a teacher. I found the book well written and would recommmend it to anyone interested in public school education.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book!, September 29, 2000

By 

Alex (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wall Of Fame: One Teacher, One Class, and the Power to Save Schools and Transform Lives (Paperback)

This was a great book. Mary Catherine Swanson has a great Avid program. This teacher was really dedicated to help teens into college.