Schools used to set standards, and students were expected to meet them. Today, teachers are told they must entertain the students. Students know that if they don't pay attention, the teacher will be blamed. Teachers are expected to pass students even when they refuse to work. If a student knows he will pass whether he works or not, he will not work. The school board and the administration set these standards, then blame teachers for the results. And the media, and the public have swallowed their excuses. American Universities are the envy of the world, yet our public schools are among the worst, because Universities demand the best from their students, while public schools have fallen prey to "new age" concepts that just don't work. Written by a teacher, You Can't Blame the Teachers is a lively and honest look at what's really behind the failure of American education. It captures the frustration, the absurdity, and the outright stupidity of daily life in American high schools. Visit our website at www.youcantblametheteachers.com
About the Author: J. D. Whitford was born too long ago for it to matter where. He was educated at a good high school somewhere else, followed by a Major Midwestern University where he earned a Master's Degree and also taught, then some time later at a Minor Midwestern University for his Teaching Certificate, followed by a brief stop at a Major Southern University, where he determined the plague destroying education is spreading. Before becoming a writer Mr. Whitfield was and remains a teacher, and before becoming a teacher he was a writer, having earned a Respected Award for Creative Writing at college, and working for 12 years as an advertising/public relations writer for a once-great company. Mr. Whitfield wishes it to be known he left that company clean and in good condition, and any damage done since is the fault of others. He then ran an advertising company in a Major Midwestern Town, again leaving the city in good condition, to move into education and find that this time, the decay and destruction preceded him. Having unwisely launched his second career during a recession, Mr. Whitfield has taught full-time in five high-schools, part-time in 6 others, and also part-time in five colleges, none of which are likely to admit to knowing him once they see this book. While he hopes readers, agents, publishers and the Pulitzer Prize Committee will note that he has writing credentials, he also entered teaching some ten years ago, long enough ago to know what he's talking about, late enough in life to have acquired some wisdom, recently enough to see where we stand today with a fresh perspective, and old enough to remember when education was different. Beyond these relevant facts he wishes at present to remain a mystery, as women find that exciting.