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Book Reviews
Ensuring Student Success:
A Handbook of Evidence-Based Strategies
By Myles I. Friedman
A 259-page 7" X 10" hardcover. ISBN 0-9666588-1-7
"Ensuring Student Success provides an excellent resource to educators serving in every role. Even non-educators who want to devote energy to improving student achievement will find this book to be a thoughtful read. Myles I. Friedman's approach satisfies the logical, rational and sequential thinker. His work is founded on solid scientific reasoning for decision making in education. The logical writing sequence serves to define issues and problems followed by an analysis of them. Friedman, a retired education professor in South Carolina, describes necessary interventions, which include corrective tutoring, effective instructional strategies and empowering students with strategies for self-teaching."
"The work concludes with information on preventing impediments to learning, the benefit of effective preschool instruction and the benefit of teaching students to innovate. Friedman offers a comprehensive approach to improved learning. The book delves into key issues facing all citizens and professionals. School violence, teaching techniques, class size, disruptions and ability grouping are included among the factors affecting student learning and school culture. The book belongs on the reading list of conscientious citizens and educators interested in research and data - driven reform. My copy has become a regular reference source." - Joseph W. Rudnicki, Superintendent, Sunnyvale School District, Sunnyvale, California
"The chapters describing how to change practice in accordance with evidence are great. I like the book because it puts a fresh and refreshing spin on the goal of student improvement: increasing student success, especially defined as increasing the number of students who master high school objectives." - Dr. Lawrence Lezotte, school improvement leader. Head of Effective Schools Ltd. Former Chair, Department of Educational Administration, Michigan State University
"The book seems relevant and a useful guide for decision-making. I think you have attempted a bold and complex task in drawing together large bodies of work to address the problem of enhancing student success in school." - Dr. Carolyn Evertson, Peabody College, Vanderbilt University
"Discussing how American values can stand in the way of successful schools is a novel and effective approach... I concur completely with your premise that the only way to ensure student success is to implement educational practice that research shows to be effective." - John Anderson, Vice Chairman of New American Schools
"Friedman has done us a service."- Arnold F. Fege, President/ Public Advocacy for Kids
"...Friedman has a plan to fix American education. Our present system allows far too many student deficiencies, he contends, which contribute to a multitude of social ills. His solution is to improve teaching effectiveness. He thus advocates corrective instruction by individualized attention, with teachers evaluating students according to whether they have achieved "mastery" or "not yet"..."
"According to this method, advancement would only follow mastery, and teachers would have the authority to make educational decisions based on research evidence. Prescriptive teaching strategies and tactics cover a wide range of recommendations, including instructional expectations, evaluations, and keeping students on task...."
"Friedman is critical of current thinking on student discipline, ability grouping, and whole language instruction and supports his arguments with extensive bibliographic references. Some points are belabored, but overall effort is provocative and worth consideration by educators, parents, school boards, and citizens in general. Recommended despite the high price." - Will Hepfer, SUNY at Buffalo, Library Journal, January 2001.
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