Thoughts on teaching

We're approaching midterms (both high school and college), so it seems a good time to roll out three new books that focus on education in America.
The Last Word: the best commentary and controversy in American education is a collection of opinion pieces about educational techniques, goals and trends. These short pieces originally appeared in Education Week, which is the staple periodical of the teaching profession. The essays are arranged by subject, not chronologically, so it makes it easy to read about a particular topic of interest.
Letters to a Young Teacher, by Jonathan Kozol, is a book of advice and support for anyone who is beginning their teaching career. Kozol addresses many of the important, and sometimes controversial, aspects of being an educator. Some of his most thoughtful points come in response to questions from a first-year teacher who invited him into her Boston classroom. This book will provide valuable insight for new teachers. For experienced teachers, it will be a reminder of why they choose this particular career path and will make them think about their views on education.
Dr. Rudy Crew is a superintendent with experience in New York City, Boston, Tacoma and Sacramento. Currently the superintendent of the Miami-Dade County system, he has co-authored a book about how to re-energize American schools. Only Connect: the way to save our schools is a call for all the stakeholders in American education - parents, business leaders, legislators, and administrators - to help students and teachers thrive in a supportive, high-quality educational environment.
It pays to remember that children become workers, voters, taxpayers and leaders. Someone else's 9-year-old may not have much impact on your life now, but in 30 years that child will be making the decisions that shape your world.