Must Read: Searching for Hope by Matthew Tully

I've been visiting my local library branch a couple times a week. First, I visit the children's area to check for new and cool picture books. Then, I go over to adult non-fiction to look for cookbooks with easy, healthy recipes. Finally, I end by browsing the education section. I'm guaranteed to leave with enough books to wish I brought a bag. 

A few weeks ago I happened upon Searching for Hope, pulled it off the shelf and read the inside flap. Turns out it was about a local high school. I checked it out and then it sat on my "To Read" shelf while I was working on a 700+ page mystery (more on that in a future post). When I finally started reading Searching for Hope, I couldn't put it down. If you care about education or kids or wonder what's "wrong" with schools today, you MUST READ THIS BOOK! 

The author is a local journalist who sets out to spend a couple months at a high school to chronicle the "problems" in education through a series of newspaper stories. He quickly finds that while there are plenty of problems (poor attendance, an atrocious drop-out rate, teachers who appear to have given up) at the school, there are also bright spots. There are dedicated, passionate, and inspiring teachers and there are students who come to school regularly and have plans for college. 

Instead of spending a few months at the school, the author spends the entire 2009-2010 school year observing. He's there several days a week. He sits in on classes (choir, welding, algebra, history, English, calculus, and credit catch-up classes). He interviews students, teachers, parents, administrators, and the football coach. He is granted access to sensitive meetings with students and parents involving the dean, the principal, the social worker, and the school police officers. He sees multiple arrests and suspensions and visits kids in prison. He attends choir concerts and graduation. He really sees all the aspects of a real, struggling school. 

This book makes it so clear that the answer to fixing schools is not one-size-fits-all. The issues are huge and intertwined. I would love for a few people to read this book and discuss it with me! 

Happy Reading!