No comments about Oh Those Youthful Years.

No comments about Homenaje a Juan Antonio Sagredo Fernandez: Estudios De Bibliografia Y Fuentes De Informacion.

No comments about Thailights.

1 comments about Dreaming No Small Dreams: William R. Harvey's Visionary Leadership.

1. I just bought this wonderful book when I went back to Hampton University for Homecoming 2003. I was glad to see such an undertaking written on Dr. Harvey. I found it very interesting and I am now in trouble with my wife because I kept my night-stand light on all night reading the book from cover to cover. I have only one criticism so I will dispense with that first: Dr. Benjamin is very repetitious of certain facts and accounts including them in one chapter to illustrate one aspect of Harvey's leadership and then in another to illustrate a similar leadership trait, while this is the only weakness of the book it is a common thread throughout, chapter after chapter,and therefore does lend itself to no small amount of irritation. Other than that, it is an absolutely fabulous book about a man who has been a true inspiration to more than a generation of Hamptonians. As an approach to the work, it should be noted for the true students of the genre that the book neither is nor pretends to be a work of autobiography, instead it is a chronicle of how one man's value based leadership transformed an institution of higher learning. In the pages of this book one finds a man steady at the ship in steering Hampton toward new horizons while keeping her true to her most noblest traditions and aspirations. One finds a man of vision unafraid to do what is right for that grand institution while in the process demonstrating and exemplifying dignity and decency. As an alum of Hampton University who was inspired by Harvey's leadership as a student, the work came as a refresher and a capsulization of all that I learned while quietly observing this man from a distance. Thank You, Dr. Benjamin for capturing one of Hampton's finest moments...Dr Harvey, Hampton University is your destiny... what a blessing to be so clear...and she still needs you!!!

   (...)

1 comments about Not Til I Have Done: A Personal Testimony.

1. In this brief but full autobiography, Elizabeth Achtemeier brings us full circle from her Oklahoma childhood, her theological education in New York and Germany, her years as wife and mother, and her unplanned vocation in teaching homiletics at a time when women were just beginning to enter the pulpit. Her prose is sharp, witty, but gentle too. Throughout this book, her theme is God's hand on her life, in joys and frustrations.

   I especially enjoyed reading how she and her husband met and how their scholarship has complimented, rather than competed against, one another. I also think it is so important for retiring scholars to write such personal accounts, sharing with those who have admired their intellectual prose the humanity from which it stems. It is clear God is "not done" with her yet, noe with any who seek His voice.

1 comments about Ramallah Teacher : The Life of Mildred White, Quaker Missionary.

1. This story of Mildred White could have easily been a lot better. It follows her life, giving background on the Quaker history in America and specifically Indiana, and the history of Mildred's family. It follows her call to go to Palestine, and gives some background on the history of the Friends school in Ramallah. Then, with the use of narrative and actual letters, Jordan tells the story of White's life- her time in Palestine and her trips back to the U.S.
   
   But to say "story" is really too kind. The writing is simply too dry, and not at all gripping. It's frankly bad writing. I found myself having to skim through large sections. This was more of an individual's admittedly laudable desire to put to paper some of her own family history- as Lois is Mildred's niece. And it is of more interest to those who are related to the Whites and the Jordans. This is truly a shame, as one gets hints of a many amazing events that happen in Mildred's life- she lives through the rise of Zionism and al nakba, or The Catastrophe, when the ethnic cleansing of the Arabs from Palestine occurred. Jordan shares some of that time, but it's squeezed into a couple chapters, and the stories mentioned take up a paragraph at a time. She simply doesn't pull you in. It's not like you feel for any of the characters of this biography, including Mildred. It could be a textbook, except there's little information conveyed.
   
   But there are also aspects of Mildred's life that lack real vividness. There is little sense of a great battle to wage, and a good fight well won. Zeal could have been applied to service and non-violent action, but if it happened, it is not well communicated.
   
   Two stars because of some history shared about Palestine in the 20's - 50's, and nice tidbits like that "Ramallah" used to be called "Ram Allah"- Hill of God. The book also serves to put a much more human face on the very oppressed Palestinian people. More books that do that are sorely needed. But Ramallah Teacher should largely be skipped.

No comments about Transformations: The Life of Margaret Fulton, Canadian Feminist, Educator, and Social Activist.

No comments about Forests, Power and Policy: The Legacy of Ray Williston.

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.

No comments about Pestalozzi: His Life and Work.