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There Are No Shortcuts: How an inner-city teacher--winner of the American Teacher Award--inspires his students and challenges us to rethink the way we educate our children ReviewAfter I saw a documentary about Rafe Esquith, I decided to read "There Are No Shortcuts," in which this unique educator gives his perspective on the rewards, challenges, and disappointments of teaching in a Los Angeles public school. Esquith has two decades under his belt fighting entrenched bureaucrats who prefer conformity to individuality. During his years in Hobart Elementary School, he has taught inner-city children Shakespeare and other works of classic literature as well as advanced mathematics and music. In addition, he has given his students the skills and the confidence to achieve more than they ever dreamed was possible. All of this comes at a price. Esquith almost went bankrupt paying for the materials that he needed to support his curriculum, and he ended up in the hospital after putting in long hours with little sleep. He still works from dawn to dusk, as well as on Saturdays and school holidays, but he attempts to avoid burnout by occasionally taking some time off to relax with his family.One of Esquith's mottos is "work hard, be nice." He certainly works hard, but he is not always nice in his criticism of the educational establishment. He skewers incompetent and indifferent teachers and administrators, ridicules irrational and obstructive rules and regulations, and even has a few harsh words for his own union, which he has supported over the years. Anything or anyone who prevents an educator from doing whatever he can to bring out the best in every student gets thumbs down from Esquith. He believes that a teacher should be able to come into school to work with students during his free time, be allowed to take kids on overnight trips, be permitted to create his own course of study, and be given respect by his fellow educators, even though he refuses to toe the party line.
"There Are No Shortcuts" is not a "how-to" book for new public school teachers. If anything, it's a cautionary tale about how a person who sticks his neck out is in danger of getting it chopped off. Esquith is not now and has never been a typical teacher, and few will have the desire or the energy to emulate him. However, he is inspiring in his desire to uncover his students' untapped talents, and he has given a great gift to those fortunate enough to have been in his classroom. It is heartwarming to learn that some of Esquith's former students go on to Ivy League schools and become successful professionals. Many of them keep in touch with their former mentor and a few take the time to revisit Hobart to lend a hand. It is also amazing that such luminaries as Ian McKellan and Hal Holbrook are enthusiastic fans of Esquith who regularly visit his classes.
Although Rafe Esquith is an award-winning teacher who has received widespread media coverage, he is not a saint. He confesses that he has made some serious errors, and he admits that he may occasionally come across as rude and intolerant. Esquith's passion for his job and his disparagement of teachers who coast rather than strive for excellence has aroused animosity in some of his colleagues who may be resentful of his fame and what they perceive as his sense of entitlement. Why should they have to follow the rules while Rafe Esquith gets special treatment? He makes no bones about how little patience he has for the many underachievers who stand in front of the nation's classrooms. These include educators who are lazy, rarely read, use the boring textbooks provided by the school instead of stimulating materials, and who refuse to give even a minute extra of their time to their students. Is Rafe Esquith an altruistic and heroic individual who is correct in his assessment of public education? Or is he an arrogant, unrealistic, and self-serving publicity hound? Whether you are a cheerleader or a critic, no one can dispute the fact that this is a man who expects a great deal of himself, his students, and everyone else, and he has no intention of lowering his standards anytime soon.There Are No Shortcuts: How an inner-city teacher--winner of the American Teacher Award--inspires his students and challenges us to rethink the way we educate our children Overview
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