The Magical Place We Call School, Creating a Safe Space for Learning and Happiness in a Challenging World
by Dr. Kathleen Corely
At a time when public school educators face student absenteeism, falling achievement and deteriorating mental health on a daily basis, according to a recent joint investigation by ProPublica and the New Yorker, Dr. Kathleen Corley has figured out how to transform her school into a warm, nurturing community with a passion for learning.
In her new book, The Magical Place We Call School: Creating a Safe Space for Learning and Happiness in a Challenging World, Dr. Corley, a 40-year veteran in elementary education, shares how to overcome current obstacles in education with human interest stories that illuminate a brighter path forward, and how she inspires her students and teachers to want to excel while emphasizing the power of fun.
Written with humor, insight and optimism, Dr. Corley reminds readers that despite the problems in schools today — disagreements about what students should or should not be taught, etc. — magic still happens in classrooms. But that magic needs more than wishful thinking; it requires tenacity and good design. In addition, teachers must be backed up and empowered by administrators; administrators must be backed up by district officers; and policy makers must listen to district personnel. Dr. Corley says schools can raise the bar. Extraordinary things still happen in schools across America. The Magical Place We Call School is the primer needed to heal the American education system and build a supportive learning community.
