David Michael Slater - We’re Doing It Wrong: 25 Ideas in Education That Just Don’t Work and How to Fix Them

Praise for Were Doing It Wrong

Master teacher David Michael Slaters book is a masterpiece! It is written in clear and concise prose that has the impact of a sledgehammer as the author dismantles one myth after another and makes commonsense solutions to seemingly intractable problems. Were Doing It Wrong is a cogent and concise appraisal of the dismal state of American public education that should become mandatory reading for every concerned parent, administrator, school board member, elected public official, journalist, and self-appointed expert who professes to know the easy solution to the failures of our schools. His blunt, no-holds barred assessment of the growing crisis in public schools cannot be easily dismissed. Unfortunately, the fact that he is an experienced and successful teacher will probably disqualify him in the eyes of most educational reformers who have never taught a single minute in our beleaguered schools. This is the most important, commonsense approach to fixing our public schools that I have ever been privileged to read.

Richard O. Davies

Distinguished Professor of History, Emeritus

Academic Vice President of University of Nevada

Nevada Professor and Researcher of the Year

Dean of College of Public Service at Northern Arizona

Former President of University of Northern Colorado

Nevada Writer Hall of Fame inductee

It is perhaps no surprise that in an age of ideologically polarized educational research and politicsmatched with a widespread disrespect for teachers and public schoolsa book of such straightforward sanity as this one needs to be published and read widely. It will miff people at the poles of opinion, but it is thoroughly supported by empirical research and experienced teachers craft knowledge.

James Paul Gee

Regents Professor, Arizona State University

Mary Lou Fulton Presidential Professor of Literacy Studies

Member, National Academy of Education

If you want a book with fresh ideas on perennial issues in education that are commonly and deeply misunderstood, David Michael Slaters Were Doing It Wrong is a relentless page-turner. Everything old is reinterpreted with new understandings and an invitation to act differently: school choice, merit pay and accountability, scripted curriculum, high-needs parents, sage or guide, tenure, and nineteen other ideas are sliced and diced in new ways. This is a makes you think treatment of major myths and education conundrumsread it, and think and act differently.

Michael Fullan

Professor Emeritus, University of Toronto

From the moment I started reading David Michael Slaters Were Doing It Wrong: 25 Ideas in Education That Just Dont WorkAnd How to Fix Them , I thought, WOW... this guy really gets it! It would benefit every teacher, administrator, school board member, parent, and legislator to read this book.

Shelly Vroegh

2017 Iowa Teacher of the Year

With a passionate voice, David Michael Slater identifies the challenges we face in education and addresses them one by one. His words encourage the visionary administrators and courageous teachers who meet these challenges head-on, and they provide a starting point for others to activate conversations that move education forward.

Jayne Ellspermann

President, National Association of Secondary School Principals

2015 National Principal of the Year

I finally found a book that I can relate to, ascribe to, and wholeheartedly hand to a colleague without reservations. It is rare that you find a book that contains a no nonsense approach to the problems that are prevalent in our profession and solutions that offer a light at the end of the tunnel. A must-read for educators in our turbulent educational climate!

Brita Scott

La Grande Education Association President

Eastern Oregon UniServ Council President

I am inspired by Davids empathetic and unapologetic acknowledgement that our choice of educational transformation must honor human interaction and encourage passion.

Joe D. Genasci, NCC NCSC

President and CEO GuidEd Fusion Inc.

Every school board member in the country should read this book and start a community discussion about where education goes from here and how we move from a system that fails too many to one that truly serves the needs of children, educators, and the world.

Leigh Anne Jasheway, BA, MPH

Instructor at University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communications

Recipient of the Erma Bombeck Award for Humor Writing

I encourage not only educators and leaders to read this book, but also all policymakers and anyone else concerned or connected to our educational system. We need to remember that complex solutions are not always better. Simple is just as elegantespecially when they work.

Robert O. Davies, PhD

President, Murray State University

Youll find this book a provocative antidote to the educational deform movement and its well-heeled advocates.

Gregory Smith

Emeritus Professor, Graduate School of Education and Counseling, Lewis & Clark College

The book is deeply honest, compelling, and real and should be read by every education policymaker, leader, teacher, and community member. Thank you, David, for this provocative call to action.

Dyan Smiley

Education advocate

David Michael Slaters book should be required reading for the new President and Congress. His is a straight-shooting voice with thoughtful and sobering reflections directly from the field. We need to heed the compelling insights and solutions laid out in his new book about our system of education.

Cindy Cisneros

VP of Education Programs, Committee for Economic Development

David Michael Slater puts the conventional wisdom on education under a microscope and finds much of it wanting. I found insights on every page of this concise, engaging book.

Jonathan Plucker, PhD

Author of Intelligence 101

Julian C. Stanley Professor of Talent Development at Johns Hopkins University

David Michael Slater provides an inspiring, useful blend of 30,000-foot flyovers and boots-on-the-ground practical ideas. Any stakeholder in educationteachers, parents, and especially policymakerswill benefit from his vision and suggestions.

Matt Miller

Teacher, speaker, and author of Ditch That Textbook

Slaters book is a step in the right direction towards improving education of the next generations.

Pam Ertel

2017 Nevada Teacher of the Year

David Michael Slater does quite an impressive job of writing in a perspective that all teachers can relate to. As an educator, I am grateful to see these vital concerns addressed by a classroom teacher. If we want to see changes in education, we have to speak up. Slater shows no hesitation in letting his voice be heard. This is a must-read for any educator that is looking for change.

Joni Smith

2017 Louisiana Teacher of the Year

It is rare to find such a passionate, articulate, honest, insightful book about our educational system. I hope that this book will be read by those just beginning their careers as teachers and administrators as well as those with years of experience. It deserves as far-reaching an audience as possible.

Robert Brooks, PhD

Psychologist and faculty (part-time), Harvard Medical School

Co-author: Raising Resilient Children and Understanding and Managing Childrens Classroom Behavior

Copyright 2018 by David Michael Slater