This particular book – which I received as a free Advanced Reader Copy from Netgalley – was chosen specifically due to my long-term interest in educational reform. I’ve long believed that our educational system was in need of a more human touch, especially in an age of computers where most of the repetitive tasks and responses taught in schools can be easily done by quickly evolving technology. Humans have abilities beyond those of computers and, in my admittedly generalist opinion, those skills and abilities should be developed ahead of the usual school curriculum of “sit in that chair and repeat what I say”.
So, did the author meet my expectations in this regard? Not quite, however, she did put together a relevant argument for many of her points and I approve of her attempts to cover this extremely relevant subject during a difficult time. I would have preferred her to go a little further beyond the typical fare of educational dialog, the potential was there to add significantly to a dynamic dialog on the future of teaching and education. However, I do understand the pressure to maintain the status quo in a book directed primarily at teachers and parents, as both groups tend of have specific expectations in their reading material. While the author didn’t go quite as far as I would have liked, the material was easy to read and should be of some significant help to parents and educators attempting to school their children in an effective manner during a difficult moment in education. I look forward to seeing Ms. Hirsch improve her craft and make an impact on the educational community.