5 comments about Noble Poverty: A Teacher's Life in Silicon Valley.

1. This book is perfect for anyone who has children in public school or plans to have children in public school. Anyone who's trying to get by in the Bay Area, especially someone living on a teacher's salary. It's a quick read. It's fun and heartwarming. Jim has done a great job of bringing you into this part of his life.



2. This guy is one of the most boring writers I have ever encountered. His dialog makes you cry out " If you use the phrase "That's Cool" one more time in this chapter I can't take it!"

   The first half of the book, he spends whining about how "hard" it is to break into the teaching profession and his contempt for the "sell-outs" in the business world. Apparently he thinks a credential earns him the right to an instant job because he's such a wonderful, gifted human being. As if he doesn't have to prove himself and build a reputation through hard knocks like the rest of us.

   While the interesting anecdotes start to pick up in the middle part of the book, this work sufers from a lack of reflection on the bigger picture of educational bureacracy in CA.

   His own inappropriate outbursts at different people throughout the story, and his pattern of introducing and describing all the characters (unless they're white) by their race --are a reflection of his imature/ narrow world-view and unfortunately this book remains an ego driven work instead of an expose of a very corrupt system (for which I am an employee).




3. As a former educator in Boston, I found this book to be wonderfully written and very touching. Mr. Kohl showed amazing patience and tact in the face of adversity. He touched the lives of many of his students, obviously, who were lucky enough to have such a motivated person at the head of the class. It's a sad fact that teachers are so under-valued and under-paid. I highly recommend this book.



4. Mr. Kohl lets us into the most difficult decision of his life with warmth and quiet humor, caring and compassion. His wonderful descriptions pull you into the story and as a result I had a hard time putting this book down. I hope to see more from this new author.



5. Just a couple minutes ago I put down Jim Kohl's book, NOBLE POVERTY: A Teacher's Life In The Silicon Valley, its last page read. I have to say with all deliberation that it is one of the finest I've ever read.
   
   Jim's writing style so effortlessly puts you into the action. You are with him in his parents' home as he decides on a career for himself. You are with him as he endures the first red tape and abuse from the state education system trying to become a teacher. You have the shakes as he deals with his two weeks as a sub in inner city Alum Rock, you rejoice, and just plain feel good as he slowly figures the way to help problem children as a full-time teacher at LeyVa Middle School. You enjoy the things he enjoys because you are right there with him, enthralled every step of the way. You watch with grim concern as life slowly teaches him that his family will go under if he doesn't find something that pays more, and you wipe away a tear and fight depression when "his kids" find out he is leaving.
   
   My mom taught in the public schools for 18 years. My wife taught in a parochial high school in American Samoa for the last three of our ten years there. Much of what he raises is anything but new to me, yet the way he tells the story you FEEL it all so vividly.
   
   Jim's book is more than a riveting story though. I hope it eventually has a huge circulation. Reason: because it explains so well with first hand examples in page after page the authentic tragedy we are visiting on ourselves by so sadly neglecting the people this country relies on most to give our children the knowledge they need both to take their places as an informed member of our culture, as well as obtain the tools they need to support and raise their own families. Sorry about the run-on sentence, Mr. Kohl!
   
   I was so moved by this story I wrote its author an email asking if the situation miraculously changed, would he PLEASE go back to teaching.
   
   We need the Jim Kohls of this world in our classrooms. We need them desperately.
   
   Whether it's a story of heart and character starring just a regular guy, a member of the American Common Folk that made our country so great you're after, or an eloquent clarion-call to awareness of this vital issue that you need, this story is well worth your time and attention. And it will eagerly grab both I assure you.
   
   Thank you, Mr. Kohl. Thank you for educating at least one more American...me. Thank you for all you did in the classroom and all you have explained with this thoroughly entertaining book, and the gamut of emotion you touch in doing so. I wish every American voter would read it, and hope they do. Thank YOU, the public school teachers of America, who educated my children as they educated me before them and now educate my grandchildren today. FIVE STARS, Jim, for a really moving page-turner.
   John W. Cassell
   
   John W. Cassell is the author of five novels on the American Counterculture of the late 1960's, early 1970's, as well as in the action,adventure, and mystery-law enforcement genre. He has recently had published three guest editorial pieces in Israel National News. Cassell retired in 2006 after completing an over twenty-five year career in law enfocement and criminal proecution.

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