Push Has Come to Shove by Steve Perry

Steve Perry is the kind of guy I wouldn't mind working for. He demands excellence, doesn't accept excuses, is for whatever works, and occasionally swears.

In Push Has Come to Shove, Perry lays out in no uncertain terms what he thinks is wrong with American schools. I tend to agree with much, but not all, of his analysis. His dedication to kids and the concern he has for the present and future of America is great.

Anyone with an interest in education, and why it doesn't seem to be working as well as we think it should, will find Push Has Come to Shove to be stimulating, thought-provoking, and sometimes even inspirational. On the other hand, his suggestion that people get together and enter into class action lawsuits against school districts for failing to properly educate children is, well, crazy. If anyone (especially lawyers) thought there was a chance that schools could be sued into better performance, it would have been tried long ago, I'm quite sure.

Perry states that he wrote the book to inform parents how to demand better for their kids. Some teachers might find it a bit hard to take in places. I think it is refreshingly blunt. Educators need to hear that not all is well in their profession, that not everyone is trying to do their best, and that trying to do your best and failing just doesn't cut it. Harsh words Dr. Perry, harsh words.

He slams teacher unions about as hard as they can be slammed without being over-the-top rabid. In fairness, all unions exist to benefit their members first and foremost, and there is nothing wrong with doing a good job of it. Could and should the unions work more as partners with school districts to improve education? Sure, but Perry gives no indication he thinks that is possible. Maybe it isn't.

Although the prep school where Dr. Perry is principal has and continues to do an excellent job in a tough district, he gives the impression that he thinks everyone should go to college. It is not clear whether or not he actually believes that, but he doesn't seem to have much regard for the trade professions. If he does, it doesn't come out in this book.

Perry is focused on how better teachers and better teaching are the key to better results. He might be a bit out of the loop when it comes to understanding the difference between teaching and learning. Perry places nearly all responsibility for a child's education squarely on the shoulders of teachers with administrators and parents coming in second, while at the same time professing no tolerance for kids who don't do their homework.

He is for school choice and vouchers, is fine with the privatization of public education, and sees the potential benefits of technology in the classroom. He even gives a nod to individualized learning. He seems to be willing to mix and match ideas that work, no matter their source, political correctness and the unproven theories of scholars and pundits be damned. Dr. Perry is the kind of school leader, who if given the correct information, will make the right decisions to move a school forward and advance achievement. He is for truth, for reality, and for kids. Good deal.

We all need to have what we think is the right thing to do for kids to be challenged from time to time. Dr. Perry is tough customer with a sharp intellect honed by front-line experience and success. I'd hate to have to face him in a debate on how to improve student achievement. I'd probably lose, even if I was right.