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Gadfly On the Wall: A Public School Teacher Speaks Out on Racism and Reform

“Steve Singer is one of the nation’s most important pro-public education bloggers. Singer’s Insightful, perceptive, informative and powerful posts are helping to educate, persuade and mobilize people to fight back against the charter school industry and those seeking to privatize public education in the United States.” – Jonathan Pelto

About the Book

Talk, talk, talk. There’s an awful lot of talk about public education in America today. Have you ever wondered if even half of it is true?

For example, have you ever wondered if our public schools are really failing or if they might actually be some of the best in the world? Have you ever wondered if “School Choice” was actually about giving someone else more options and reducing freedom for you and your children? Ever wondered about the relationship between standardized testing and Nazi eugenics? How about if teachers unions should be doing more to fight for students’ civil rights? And now that we’re talking about it, why do white people sometimes snicker at black names? And how can you protect your children from toxic testing? Why does Common Core still exist? What’s it mean to be racist in America today? And why do the rich need racists?

If so, then you’re cordially invited on a fantastic journey where few have gone before: into the mind of a public school teacher. Become a fly on the wall in our public school system. See what few non-professionals have seen before. It’s an eye-opening experience guaranteed to ruffle a few feathers, but you’ve been warned: this is the work of a gadfly.

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5-Star Book Reviews

“Steve Singer has been both a voice of truth and a stinging critic pointing out the deep flaws in the logic and propaganda floated by the apostles of privatization and corporate education reform.” – Yohuru R. Williams

“Steven Singer, a classroom teacher in Pennsylvania, may be the wisest and most eloquent voice we have defending public education from its many enemies. His moral compass is unfailingly sound, and his sympathies always on the side of the marginalized and forgotten. His work has been a beacon of light for students and teachers in a difficult time.” – Mark Naison, Professor of African American Studies and History, Fordham University

“As a teacher educator I have been searching for a book written by a teacher that exposes the privatization of public education and pushes back against racist school policies and practices. I look forward to having my students learn from Steven Singer and I am sure this will be one required text they enjoy!” – Denisha Jones, Professor of Curriculum Theory, Pre-school Education and Teacher Education at Trinity Washington University

“Here’s the best of what you missed in one place. Inspiring and infuriating, Steven Singer is one of the best education bloggers of this generation.” – Julian Vasquez Heilig, Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Sacramento State University, cloakinginequity.com

“Steven Singer is a teacher for all of us, and this book has lessons we should take to heart. His writing describes and demolishes the madness of modern education “reform.” It is a breath of fresh air, and should be in every teachers’ lounge and legislative office in the country.” – Anthony Cody, Education activist, teacher, and author of The Educator And The Oligarch: A Teacher Challenges The Gates Foundation

“In these troubled and troubling times, there is no one who writes more passionately about public education, teachers, and the struggle for justice and equity than Steve Singer. Gadfly on the Wall is an essential part of any education blogroll.” – Peter Greene, Education Blogger and teacher, Curmudgucation Blog

“Thought-provoking. A concise source of valuable information, and definitely worth preserving in book form.” – Mercedes Schneider, PhD., deutsch29.wordpress.com, Teacher, researcher, and two-time Grawemeyer Award in Education nominee, Common Core Dilemma: Who Owns Our Schools? and School Choice: The End of Public Education?

“Steve Singer is one of the nation’s most important pro-public education bloggers. Singer’s Insightful, perceptive, informative and powerful posts are helping to educate, persuade and mobilize people to fight back against the charter school industry and those seeking to privatize public education in the United States.” – Jonathan Pelto, Founder/Coordinator of the Education Bloggers Network

“Steve Singer writes from the front lines of the public school wars with wit and intelligence. Channeling the justified outrage of a classroom teacher under attack from budget cuts and neoliberal reforms, Singer bears witness to what is happening to his students and our system of public education more broadly.” – Jessie B. Ramey, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Gender & Women’s Studies and Director of the Women’s Institute at Chatham University, author of the Yinzercation blog

“Steven Singer speaks the truth about the detriment of education “deform.” His voice is a powerful one for children, teachers, and communities.” – Marla Kilfoyle, Executive Director, The Badass Teachers Association

“In this collection of essays, Singer’s distinctive voice, steeped in empathy for children and enthusiasm for good teachers and good teaching, shines through as persuasive, provocative and well-informed.” – Russ Walsh, Teacher, author of The Parent’s Guide to Public Education in the 21st Century, and blogger at Russ on Reading.

“Steven Singer has always brought a fresh look to the world of education reform… A must-read for anyone that wants to understand why public education is the leading civil rights issue today.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“A must-read. My Partner is a teacher & Loves this book!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“This is a must read on anyone who claims to be resisting the move to privatize and destroy public education. Every chapter is refreshing and enlightening to read.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“Meaningful change never happens from the top down but always from the bottom up. If you Love the teaching profession, but feel it has been gaslighted through the efforts of the drill and kill approach of education reform, read this book to get your mojo back … Now it is our turn to Rise Up!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“If you’re looking for a book that paints the truth with words, pick it up. Steven writes with the candor that more should use when speaking or writing. His book unveils myths about the chatter and privatization basis of our public schools.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“Steven has written an amazing book that every educator, parent, and community member should read. He is honest and powerful. He is funny and straight to the point. A must read for all!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“It’s about time we hear from real, live teachers about the issues that are affecting our public schools and our students! Everyone who wants to know what it’s really like in the classroom and how forces in the larger society affect kids needs to read this.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“This is a great book. The author really gets into important issues, but maintains a wry sense of humor that carries his message well. Entertaining and Informative all at the same time.”- Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“Singer has a knack for taking the many headed hydra that is public education, and all of its subsequent issues, and making a huge, ever-complicating conundrum into an easy to digest, yet super informative, book.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“This is a must read on anyone who claims to be resisting the move to privatize and destroy public education. Every chapter is refreshing and enlightening to read.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“As a teacher educator I have been searching for a book written by a teacher that exposes the privatization of public education and pushes back against racist school policies and practices. I look forward to having my students learn from Steven Singer and I am sure this will be one required text they enjoy!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“This is a fabulous book. Mr Singer tells it like it is. This is everything that i have thinking about and it’s really amazing to see it in print. The author paints a vivid picture of what is going with public schools in America … I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in education!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“This is a great book. The author really gets into important issues, but maintains a wry sense of humor that carries his message well. Entertaining and Informative all at the same time.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“Want a peek into what is happening in our public school classrooms? Singer brings the truth to light with wit, entertainment, and facts.” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews

“Great style and honest look into a classroom. I consider it a fine primary source! Bravo!” – Amazon, Amazon Reviews