Educated Guess: A School Board Member Reflects

By Howard Good

Anyone who has served on a school board or taught in a classroom has stories to tell, but few have chronicled their experiences with the candor and humor of school board president and journalism professor Howard Good in Educated Guess: A School Board Member Reflects.

School board veterans and rookies alike will identify with Good's wide-ranging tales of board service. The book provides guidance to those facing common school board issues: school violence, censorship, public speaking, budget cuts, citizen complaints, internal conflicts, and the negative image that seems to dog school boards no matter what they do.

Educated Guess is filled with insights that Good has acquired as a school board member for the past six years and as a teacher for many more. Reading the book is like listening to a sometimes wise, sometimes wise-cracking voice philosophizing about human nature as well as the nature of education.

Some of the most poignant parts of this book contain Good's reminiscences about the teachers he had while growing up. Although he doesn't spare bad teachers, he characteristically finds something positive even amid hurtful memories.

Educated Guess: A School Board Member Reflects is enjoyable, instructive, and inspirational. School board members, school administrators, teachers, and parents will be informed and invigorated by it.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0810847590
• ISBN13: 9780810847590
• Release Date: June 2003
• Publisher: R & L Education
• Length: 112 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.9" x 9.1"

Customer Reviews

No Need To Guess, This Is Good

For a specialized audience, this book is a handy guide for newcomers or veterans to school board service. Most readings on this topic are published by state school board associations or college professors. Most are dry and somewhat preachy. Here's one that stands out as unique, realistic, and humorous (in fact I actually laughed out loud several times while reading it). Written by a six year veteran school board leader, who also happens to be a journalism professor, Educated Guess captures glimpses of the best and worst moments of this volunteer service. A keen observer of human nature and a natural storyteller, Good examines critical issues facing all schools today. Chapters range from two to six pages and can stand solidly alone or be linked together for a longitudinal understanding of the school board member experience. This book would be a wonderful resource for a systems class in educational administration, or for use in school board member training sessions. It would also be a great gift for friends, relatives, neighbors or colleagues who are considering running for the local school board, currently sitting trustees, or those recovering from a term in office. Good's writing is both smart and funny. A winning combination.