Down-to-earth advice about fixing schools from someone who鈥檚 wrestled with tough kids and even tougher adults This book offers a vision of what school should be-from the gutsy teacher whose life and bestselling book inspired the movie, Dangerous Minds. LouAnne Johnson is a passionate advocate for schools that are less bureaucratic and more child-centered, arguing for schools that are smaller, healthier, more humane, and more attuned to different learning styles. In doing so, she reveals little-known facts about growing problems-such as ADHD and illiteracy-that, in some cases, have some surprising remedies. For example, the misbehaving boy who simply has an undiagnosed reading problem, or the withdrawn girl who blossoms when allowed to express herself through journal writing. LouAnne is clearly fed up with an educational system that is too quick to label and write-off children who don鈥檛 fit the mold. Yet, in story after story, she shows how a compassionate teacher, counselor, or parent can cut through the red tape and make a crucial difference in the life of a child. Her edicts address all aspects of schooling-from restlessness in the classroom to health risks for kids, from class size to the effects of detention.