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Don’t All Children Deserve Schools that Work:
A Teacher’s Perspective
(Detroit, Michigan, /MediaQuire) Teacher activist Dr. John Telford has penned a memoir, A Life On The Run: Seeking and Safeguarding Social Justice, about his more than 50 years in the trenches of one of the largest urban school districts in America. Coming of age against the backdrop of some of the most critical events in the struggle for equality in Detroit, this book is a compelling look at how racism channeled his passion into a love for teaching.
From this vantage point, Dr. Telford has a unique perspective on how to fix what is wrong with our ailing schools in what could rightly be called the most critical issue affecting America’s economic sustainability.
This is what a teacher sees today when they look at their world:
- Against the lingering effects of the downturn, schools are needing to both slash and borrow millions of dollars just to stay open, and in some districts mandatory teacher furloughs are being considered to get to June. Can we afford to lose more teachers?
- More than 6 million teachers are currently teaching in the U.S. 71% are women and less than 8% are teachers of color and fewer and fewer are joining the ranks. It is in fact the lowest number of teachers of color since 1971. What does this do to the teaching of the multi-cultural experience?
- More than 50% of teachers are over 50. In ten years, 50% of the most experienced work force will retire. Who will take their place?
- In many urban schools, 80% of teachers are women in elementary and middle schools, ensuring that many urban black children will have virtually no contact with any adult males until high school.
- After 5 years many of the best and the brightest teachers leave -- burned out. What can be done to reverse the trend?
- Many urban classrooms are badly in need of repair with broken windows, leaky sewage, ten-year-old textbooks, no paper and chalk. What kind of environment does this create for students and teachers? Clearly we are failing here.
For black children in America, a recent study reported that 90% will be on food stamps before they reach 20 – schools represent their only way out, but we are failing to provide even the basics of a proper education. The social and economic divide is nowhere more clearly evident than in urban schools. While largely white districts are thriving, urban areas with children of color are virtually in disarray.
At the close of the recent mayoral race in Boston, one poll placed education at the top of the list for what is of greatest concern to the voters. Teachers are the window to the problem and to the solution. We urge you to consider Dr John Telford for an interview or profile.
At the MediaQuire blog, there is a short interview with Dr. Telford, which we believe will give you an insight into the kind of piece you could develop around these critical issues.
Upcoming media appearance: Dr. Telford will be a guest on Connie Martison Talks Books in December. Please go to her website http://www.conniemartinson.com/ for more information.
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PRAISE FOR A LIFE ON THE RUN
“A Life on the Run” is a triumphant tale of teaching, fighting, loving, racing, civil-righteous rebellion, and raw courage. Dr. John Telford lays it on the line in exciting activist/educator style—like the exciting activist/educator he is.” —Professor John A. Powell, Executive Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity at Ohio State University
ABOUT JOHN TELFORD
John Telford has run on many tracks –not all of them always the right ones. He out ran Olympic champions, hosted radio shows, appeared on television, wrote over one thousand newspaper columns, coached and taught in ghetto schools and in colleges, led school districts and social welfare agencies and continues to fight for urban school reform and minority rights.
PUBLICATION INFORMATION
Title: A LIFE ON THE RUN: SEEKING AND SAFEGUARDING SOCIAL JUSTICE
Author: Dr. John Telford
Publisher: Harmonie Park Press
Publication Date: January 2010
Price: $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-899901-49-7 Pages: 435
PUBLICITY CONTACT
gail@topressandbeyond.com or 805-898-2263