The Teacher's Attention

Why Our Kids Must and Can Get Smaller Schools and Classes

By: Garrett Delavan

Narrated by: Tim Lundeen

Length: 9 hrs and 12 mins

Publisher's summary

The Teacher's Attention is a fresh take on relationships in schools. Looking beyond our obsession with raising test scores, this book recognizes that education is a key partner in raising children. Garrett Delavan contends that allowing students, educators and parents to navigate a smaller number of relationships - a concept he calls "relationship load" - provides many benefits, including a better chance at achieving equal access to a good education for all children.

Delavan shows how class size, school size, and longer-term student-teacher relationships are all equally critical components for educating our children ethically and successfully. After examining these proposed reforms in detail, Delavan also considers counterarguments and provides a detailed projection of costs and savings, putting to rest the assumption that smaller classes and smaller schools are necessarily more expensive. Finally, the book discusses possible steps toward implementation, showing how the author's proposed reforms are remarkably practical.

©2009 Temple University (P)2014 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"Delavan makes his case well and he handles the overall issues on class size very well. This is a unique book. No one has brought together this large body of literature and work on class size. The references are solid, thorough, and impressive." (Jerome Rabow, Professor Emeritus, University of California, Los Angeles, and Lecturer, California State University, Northridge)

"If ever there has been a book that makes the case for smaller class sizes, this is it. It looks not only at policy issues, costs, and political strategies, but also pushes educators and parents to think about our relationships with students. Delavan, a high school teacher in Salt Lake City, argues for 'relationship load' reduction as a key feature of improving education and the lives of children." (Rethinking Schools Online)

"Delavan's text advocates smaller sized schools and classes. His proposal is based on both personal research and experience. He asks readers to rethink what kids really need....Delavan admits that his notions are idealistic, but that 'future adults' are worth the sacrifice. Recommended." (Choice)