The End of Molasses Classes: Getting Our Kids Unstuck
Ron Clark
After reading only a few pages, I knew it would make a difference. The book is broken into sections: Ron Clark Academy's Core Principles and Values, the Role of the Parent, Creating the Right Climate and Culture, and Reaching Out Beyond the Classroom.
If he made suggestions without experience, we'd think he was insane--his school does amazing, meaningful things, and the students learn. I'm almost halfway through and I'm already contemplating the potential changes in my own class.
I don't want to spoil anything--read it yourself, but I want to tell you one thing.
From the Introduction, Mr. Clark makes a point of clarification. His school is a mix of students. Yeah, it's private, but "...about 85 percent would qualify for free or reduced lunch in the public school system" (xxii). Plus, "a third of our students have never had success academically, a third are performing at average levels, and a third are already doing quite well in school" (xxii). Instead of taking an easy road, Mr. Clark and the faculty of RCA want to show the world that his methods work--with any group of students.
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