Synopses & Reviews
An inspiring new vision for America's public schools from one of the nation's top educators American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Our eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. And by the time theyre fifteen years old, our students have slipped off the mapto twenty-fourth place internationally. If these stats dont make you angry or ashamed or plain sad, then at the very least they should make you afraid. If matters dont change soon, tens of millions of our sons and daughters will grow up unable to functionlet alone competein a global economy. And the impact of that on all of us will be devastating. All is not lost, though, says Rudy Crew, who has headed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Not by any means. Only Connect is a call for not just parents but the entire nation to reconceive our relationship with public education. If were to survive, we must place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with the full set of the tools theyll needpersonal, civic, and occupational as well as academicto face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows us the reality of our schools in a new century, and what we each must do to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., everyone has a role in restoring American education and Americas competitive edge. Dr. Rudy Crew is the superintendent of Miami Dade County public schools, the fourth-largest school system in the country. He was formerly the chancellor of New York public schools, the nations largest system. He has been superintendent or deputy superintendent in Tacoma, Sacramento, and Boston. Thomas Dyja is the author of the award-winning novel Play for a Kingdom, among others. He has worked as an editor, book packager, and bookseller. He lives in New York. An American School Board Journal Notable Book of the Year American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. Fifteen-year-old students in the United States place twenty-fourth internationally. If these statistics do not change, these students will struggle to compete in a global economy as adults. Rudy Crew has directed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Only Connect is Crew's call for not just parents but the entire nation to place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with all of the tools they'll needpersonal, civic, and occupational as well as academicto face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows the reality of American schools in a new century, and what must be done to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., Crew assigns everyone a role in restoring American education and Americas competitive edge. "Crew proposes a new strategy. First, school systems need to be run like businesses, with explicit goals, implementation plans and budgets. The school must become the nucleus of the community, the center of a web connecting business, the arts, health services and other social institutions that can be drawn into the school's orbit. 'Connected Schools,' as Crew calls them, bring outside resources in and give students . . . a better sense of what is going on in the larger world . . . Crew has the grit and determination to make his plan work."Publishers Weekly "Rudy Crew is by far one the most effective educational leaders of our generation. At last we have in his words how the task of taking on Americas most challenging and important workeducating our childrencan and should be done. As one who is familiar with Rudys work would expect, there is wisdom, hope, and inspiration in these pages."Pedro A. Noguera, New York University Professor of Sociology and author of City Schools and the American Dream "Only Connect is a wise prescription for the revitalization of our nations most important social institution: our public schools. Every page reflects deep experience and hard-earned wisdom of its author."Diane Ravitch, New York University Research Professor of Education and author of Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform "Rudy Crew has always been a missionary. In Only Connect, his mission is no less than to save our children and our country by rethinking how and why we educate our children and to remind us of our common responsibility. In this highly readable and important book, the insights range from the personal to the profound. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about our common future."Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators "Dr. Rudy Crews Only Connect is a passionate and practical guide to giving every American child access to a quality education. Reflecting the personal experiences of an educator and administrator who has tackled some of this countrys largest and most problem-plagued school systems, Only Connect brims with realism, hope, and solid, sensible advice. If you care about the state of our schools and the future of our country, then this wise, intelligent, insightful book is a must-read.”Richard Parsons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc. "Rudy Crews new book, Only Connect, is a sobering but optimistic must-read blueprint for anyone who believes public educations promise and responsibility to help all children succeed. Dr. Crew writes with a passion and knowledge that have made him one of the most accomplished educators in America.”Randi Weingarten, President, United Federation of Teachers Dr. Crews remarkable book poses a vital question for our nations consideration: Can our students compete globally? While he offers his own personal answera conditional yeshe reminds us that this is contingent on our ability, our willingness, and indeed our courage to re-examine the fundamental structure of public education in our society. A book from one who possesses such a deep understanding of educational matters and who has such a passion for students academic development deserves close attention. Like Churchills reproach to England and LBJs warning to America, Dr. Crews admonition regarding our nations education system warrants equal notice.”Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education; Chairman, Chartwell Education Group The odds are 50/50 that any given 10-year-old in a large American city can read. That is only one of the horrid statistics that Crew cites in this call to parents and educators to demand more of public schools. Drawing on 30 years of experience in public school systems from New York City to Tacoma, Washington, Crew offers firsthand accounts of dire circumstances and hope for change. Eschewing the educational and business theories bandied about as solutions to what ails public schools, he advocates the basics: personal integrity, workplace literacy, and civic awareness. Crew argues for the need to see schools as places of connection, in the center of communities, families, business, and government as well as social, arts, and faith organizations, and outlines how each sector can help schools to improve. For example, he advocates making connections between schools and workplaces so that students see how education can lead to jobs, and businesses can see future prospective employees. Crew provides many valuable resources, including a wide variety of free parenting classes.”Vanessa Bush, Booklist "Deeply concerned about the failure of America's educational system, Crew (former chancellor of the New York City schools and currently superintendent of the Miami-Dade County schools) has a vision of what must be done. In spite of the billions we spend on education, six years of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), one-third of our eighth-graders can't do basic math, and only 60% of our 10-year-olds can read, he argues. Furthermore, NCLB's focus on testing has pre-empted attention from other important dimensions of educationbuilding character, citizenship and workplace literacy. Crew proposes a new strategy. First, school systems need to be run like businesses, with explicit goals, implementation plans and budgets. The school must become the nucleus of the community, the center of a web connecting business, the arts, health services and other social institutions that can be drawn into the school's orbit. 'Connected Schools,' as Crew calls them, bring outside resources in and give students work-place literacy, i.e., a better sense of what is going on in the larger world. But it's the personal anecdotes that stand out: when Crew describes how his hardworking father put him through school . . . Crew has the grit and determination to make his plan work."Publishers Weekly
Review
"Crew argues for the need to see schools as 'places of connection,' in the center of communities, families, business, and government as well as social, arts, and faith organizations, and outlines how each sector can help schools to improve." Booklist
Review
"While his thoughts offer hope and rejuvenation, his clunky writing makes reading his book more challenging than it should be." Library Journal
Review
"I believe in Rudy Crew. I believe in his common sense, his uncommon wisdom, and his plan to make public education work again. Read it. Act on it." Bill Cosby
Synopsis
An inspiring new vision for America's public schools from one of the nation's top educators.
American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Our eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. And by the time they're fifteen years old, our students have slipped off the map to twenty-fourth place internationally.
If these stats don't make you angry or ashamed or plain sad, then at the very least they should make you afraid. If matters don't change soon, tens of millions of our sons and daughters will grow up unable to function let alone compete in a global economy. And the impact of that on all of us will be devastating.
All is not lost, though, says Rudy Crew, who has headed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Not by any means.
Only Connect is a call for not just parents but the entire nation to reconceive our relationship with public education. If we're to survive, we must place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with the full set of the tools they'l need personal, civic, and occupational as well as academic to face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows us the reality of our schools in a new century, and what we each must do to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., everyone has a role in restoring American education and America's competitive edge.
Synopsis
An inspiring new vision for America's public schools from one of the nation's top educators American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Our eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. And by the time they're fifteen years old, our students have slipped off the map--to twenty-fourth place internationally. If these stats don't make you angry or ashamed or plain sad, then at the very least they should make you afraid. If matters don't change soon, tens of millions of our sons and daughters will grow up unable to function--let alone compete--in a global economy. And the impact of that on all of us will be devastating. All is not lost, though, says Rudy Crew, who has headed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Not by any means. Only Connect is a call for not just parents but the entire nation to reconceive our relationship with public education. If we're to survive, we must place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with the full set of the tools they'll need--personal, civic, and occupational as well as academic--to face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows us the reality of our schools in a new century, and what we each must do to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., everyone has a role in restoring American education and America's competitive edge. Dr. Rudy Crew is the superintendent of Miami Dade County public schools, the fourth-largest school system in the country. He was formerly the chancellor of New York public schools, the nation's largest system. He has been superintendent or deputy superintendent in Tacoma, Sacramento, and Boston. Thomas Dyja is the author of the award-winning novel Play for a Kingdom, among others. He has worked as an editor, book packager, and bookseller. He lives in New York. An American School Board Journal Notable Book of the Year American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. Fifteen-year-old students in the United States place twenty-fourth internationally. If these statistics do not change, these students will struggle to compete in a global economy as adults. Rudy Crew has directed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Only Connect is Crew's call for not just parents but the entire nation to place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with all of the tools they'll need--personal, civic, and occupational as well as academic--to face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows the reality of American schools in a new century, and what must be done to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., Crew assigns everyone a role in restoring American education and America's competitive edge. Crew proposes a new strategy. First, school systems need to be run like businesses, with explicit goals, implementation plans and budgets. The school must become the nucleus of the community, the center of a web connecting business, the arts, health services and other social institutions that can be drawn into the school's orbit. 'Connected Schools, ' as Crew calls them, bring outside resources in and give students . . . a better sense of what is going on in the larger world . . . Crew has the grit and determination to make his plan work.--Publishers Weekly Rudy Crew is by far one the most effective educational leaders of our generation. At last we have in his words how the task of taking on America's most challenging and important work--educating our children--can and should be done. As one who is familiar with Rudy's work would expect, there is wisdom, hope, and inspiration in these pages.--Pedro A. Noguera, New York University Professor of Sociology and author of City Schools and the American Dream Only Connect is a wise prescription for the revitalization of our nation's most important social institution: our public schools. Every page reflects deep experience and hard-earned wisdom of its author.--Diane Ravitch, New York University Research Professor of Education and author of Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform Rudy Crew has always been a missionary. In Only Connect, his mission is no less than to save our children and our country by rethinking how and why we educate our children and to remind us of our common responsibility. In this highly readable and important book, the insights range from the personal to the profound. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about our common future.--Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators Dr. Rudy Crew's Only Connect is a passionate and practical guide to giving every American child access to a quality education. Reflecting the personal experiences of an educator and administrator who has tackled some of this country's largest and most problem-plagued school systems, Only Connect brims with realism, hope, and solid, sensible advice. If you care about the state of our schools and the future of our country, then this wise, intelligent, insightful book is a must-read.--Richard Parsons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc. Rudy Crew's new book, Only Connect, is a sobering but optimistic must-read blueprint for anyone who believes public education's promise and responsibility to help all children succeed. Dr. Crew writes with a passion and knowledge that have made him one of the most accomplished educators in America.--Randi Weingarten, President, United Federation of Teachers Dr. Crew's remarkable book poses a vital question for our nation's consideration: Can our students compete globally? While he offers his own personal answer--a conditional 'yes'--he reminds us that this is contingent on our ability, our willingness, and indeed our courage to re-examine the fundamental structure of public education in our society. A book from one who possesses such a deep understanding of educational matters and who has such a passion for students' academic development deserves close attention. Like Churchill's reproach to England and LBJ's warning to America, Dr. Crew's admonition regarding our nation's education system warrants equal notice.--Rod Paige, former U.S. Secretary of Education; Chairman, Chartwell Education Group The odds are 50/50 that any given 10-year-old in a large American city can read. That is only one of the horrid statistics that Crew cites in this call to parents and educators to demand more of public schools. Drawing on 30 years of experience in public school systems from New York City to Tacoma, Washington, Crew offers firsthand accounts of dire circumstances and hope for change. Eschewing the educational and business theories bandied about as solutions to what ails public schools, he advocates the basics: personal integrity, workplace literacy, and civic awareness. Crew argues for the need to see schools as 'places of connection, ' in the center of communities, families, business, and government as well as social, arts, and faith organizations, and outlines how each sector can help schools to improve. For example, he advocates making connections between schools and workplaces so that students see how education can lead to jobs, and businesses can see future prospective employees. Crew provides many valuable resources, including a wide variety of free parenting classes.--Vanessa Bush, Booklist Deeply concerned about the failure of America's educational system, Crew (former chancellor of the New York City schools and currently superintendent of the Miami-Dade County schools) has a vision of what must be done. In spite of the billions we spend on education, six years of No Child Left Behind (NCLB), one-third of our eighth-graders can't do basic math, and only 60% of our 10-year-olds can read, he argues. Furthermore, NCLB's focus on testing has pre-empted attention from other important dimensions of education--building character, citizenship and workplace literacy. Crew proposes a new strategy. First, school systems need to be run like businesses, with explicit goals, implementation plans and budgets. The school must become the nucleus of the community, the center of a web connecting business, the arts, health services and other social institutions that can be drawn into the school's orbit. 'Connected Schools, ' as Crew calls them, bring outside resources in and give students work-place literacy, i.e., a better sense of what is going on in the larger world. But it's the personal anecdotes that stand out: when Crew describes how his hardworking father put him through school . . . Crew has the grit and determination to make his plan work.--Publishers Weekly
Synopsis
An inspiring new vision for America's public schools from one of the nation's top educators American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Our eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. And by the time they're fifteen years old, our students have slipped off the map--to twenty-fourth place internationally. If these stats don't make you angry or ashamed or plain sad, then at the very least they should make you afraid. If matters don't change soon, tens of millions of our sons and daughters will grow up unable to function--let alone compete--in a global economy. And the impact of that on all of us will be devastating. All is not lost, though, says Rudy Crew, who has headed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Not by any means. Only Connect is a call for not just parents but the entire nation to reconceive our relationship with public education. If we're to survive, we must place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with the full set of the tools they'll need--personal, civic, and occupational as well as academic--to face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows us the reality of our schools in a new century, and what we each must do to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., everyone has a role in restoring American education and America's competitive edge. Dr. Rudy Crew is the superintendent of Miami Dade County public schools, the fourth-largest school system in the country. He was formerly the chancellor of New York public schools, the nation's largest system. He has been superintendent or deputy superintendent in Tacoma, Sacramento, and Boston. Thomas Dyja is the author of the award-winning novel Play for a Kingdom, among others. He has worked as an editor, book packager, and bookseller. He lives in New York. An American School Board Journal Notable Book of the Year American fourth graders score twelfth in the world in math skills, after Latvia and Hungary. Eighth graders are fifteenth, below Malaysia and Slovakia. Fifteen-year-old students in the United States place twenty-fourth internationally. If these statistics do not change, these students will struggle to compete in a global economy as adults. Rudy Crew has directed some of the largest and most daunting school systems in America. Only Connect is Crew's call for not just parents but the entire nation to place our schools at the center of our communities and partner with them to produce children with all of the tools they'll need--personal, civic, and occupational as well as academic--to face the economic challenges that lie ahead. Much like Thomas Friedman in The World Is Flat, Crew shows the reality of American schools in a new century, and what must be done to create the next generation of mature and conscious contributors to society. From parents who demand only the best from their children and their schools, through our teachers and administrators, all the way to Washington, D.C., Crew assigns everyone a role in restoring American education and America's competitive edge. Crew proposes a new strategy. First, school systems need to be run like businesses, with explicit goals, implementation plans and budgets. The school must become the nucleus of the community, the center of a web connecting business, the arts, health services and other social institutions that can be drawn into the school's orbit. 'Connected Schools, ' as Crew calls them, bring outside resources in and give students . . . a better sense of what is going on in the larger world . . . Crew has the grit and determination to make his plan work.--Publishers Weekly Rudy Crew is by far one the most effective educational leaders of our generation. At last we have in his words how the task of taking on America's most challenging and important work--educating our children--can and should be done. As one who is familiar with Rudy's work would expect, there is wisdom, hope, and inspiration in these pages.--Pedro A. Noguera, New York University Professor of Sociology and author of City Schools and the American Dream Only Connect is a wise prescription for the revitalization of our nation's most important social institution: our public schools. Every page reflects deep experience and hard-earned wisdom of its author.--Diane Ravitch, New York University Research Professor of Education and author of Left Back: A Century of Battles Over School Reform Rudy Crew has always been a missionary. In Only Connect, his mission is no less than to save our children and our country by rethinking how and why we educate our children and to remind us of our common responsibility. In this highly readable and important book, the insights range from the personal to the profound. It is a must-read for anyone who cares about our common future.--Paul D. Houston, Executive Director, American Association of School Administrators Dr. Rudy Crew's Only Connect is a passionate and practical guide to giving every American child access to a quality education. Reflecting the personal experiences of an educator and administrator who has tackled some of this country's largest and most problem-plagued school systems, Only Connect brims with realism, hope, and solid, sensible advice. If you care about the state of our schools and the future of our country, then this wise, intelligent, insightful book is a must-read.--Richard Parsons, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Time Warner Inc. Rudy Crew's new book, Only Connect, is a sobering but optimistic must-read blueprint for anyone who believes public education's promise and responsibility to help all children succeed. Dr. Crew writes with a
About the Author
Dr. Rudy Crew is the superintendent of Miami Dade County public schools, the fourth-largest school system in the country. He was formerly the chancellor of New York public schools, the nation's largest system. He has been superintendent or deputy superintendent in Tacoma, Sacramento, and Boston. Thomas Dyja is the author of the award-winning novel Play for a Kingdom, among others. He has worked as an editor, book packager, and bookseller. He lives in New York with his wife and two children.