It's the Classroom, Stupid: A Plan to Save America's Schoolchildren

A talented political operative, trouble-shooter and trouble-maker, Kalman R. Hettleman made some good things happen in the Baltimore Public Schools, despite efforts by powerful people to keep him as far away as possible from the levers of public education. Here he looks back on more than thirty years of fighting for kids against wrong-headed adults. He tells activist parents and community leaders what they can do to make the changes we need everywhere. — Jay Mathews, education columnist, Washington Post and author of Work Hard. Be Nice.

At last, someone has said something worth debating. No public school participant goes unskewered by Hettleman. He, like Don Quixote, tilts at big windmills, but unlike Quixote, he picks the right targets. — James W. Guthrie, Patricia and Rodes Hart Professor Education Leadership and Policy, Vanderbilt University

Kalman R. Hettleman, a political liberal and educational conservative, has produced a powerful and cogent corrective to prevailing educational myths (local control produces good schools, teachers” unions are to blame for the problems in urban education). Importantly, this excellent book also lays out a compelling blueprint for a vigorous federal role in the post-No Child Left Behind world. — Richard D. Kahlenberg, senior fellow, Century Foundation and author of Tough Liberal

Drawing on practical experience and an impressive body of research, Hettleman provides a thought-provoking take on why school reform efforts have come up short and what it will take to deliver on the promise of twenty-first century school reform. Hettleman drills down past the pat solutions of the day to take a hard look at our systemic challenges and what it will take to address them. This challenging, bracing book will prove a valuable read to parent, policymakers, and practitioners alike. — Frederick M. Hess, director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute

Prepare to be enlightened and provoked by one of America”s most original thinkers on education reform. In It”s the Classroom, Stupid, Kalman R. Hettleman draws on his deep experience in urban education to take on sacred cows and naked emperors wholesale. I fervently hope that his call to focus reform on research-based classroom teaching finds a receptive audience. — Robert E. Slavin, director, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University

It”s The Classroom, Stupid is perfect reading for anyone who wants a primer on the last half century”s worth of urban education reform. Hettleman challenges us to rethink the fault lines of education”s battles and refocus our efforts on improving the core technology of teacher and learning. It”s a radically unsexy idea that is our only hope for radically improving our children”s lives. — Justin C. Cohen, senior advisor to District of Columbia Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee

There”s too much dogma in American education, both within the “establishment” and among “reformers.” In this book, Kalman R. Hettleman crashes both parties with a clear and contrarian call for far-reaching changes. His prescriptions will make all sides uncomfortable, which is one indication that they warrant close attention. — Michael J. Petrilli, President, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

Hettleman has put together an informed, thoughtful, and provocative book that is sure to arouse debate and discussion about how to make our public schools work better for all students. It should be on the shelf of everyone who cares about school improvement. — Andrew J. Rotherham, Eduwonk.com; cofounder and publisher, Education Sector