|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
Contact: Gail Kearns, Publicist |
|
Celebrated Education Reformist Responds to CNN’s Perry’s Principles Dr. John Telford points out five ignored steps to school reform (Detroit, Michigan, April 15, 2010) – Every week, CNN’s Steve Perry is showcasing America’s education challenges and highlighting examples of how they’re being met. But the CNN Education Contributor’s list of principles is missing key components. Dr. John Telford—teacher, activist, superintendent, passionate civil rights champion, world-class sprinter, and now author (A Life on the Run: Seeking and Safeguarding Social Justice, www.lifeontherunbook.com)—says Perry is doing a terrific job exposing a troubled education system’s challenges. Yet, he adds, we can talk education reform until the cows come home regarding curriculum, testing, and closing schools in districts that appear to be losing enrollment, but until other components are addressed, Perry’s list will amount to little more than rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. In an interview with Pharrell Williams, Perry agrees with his guest on two imminent threats to education—the Nintendo Wii and cell phones. Urban schools face much more serious distractions. During his time as superintendent of Rochester Schools, Telford watched as needy children killed each other over shoes, coats and girls. Kids carried guns in potato chip bags while their sisters worked in dope houses. They weren’t thinking about the Wii Fit. This is tough talk for tough times. The 74-year-old Telford comes from inner city Detroit. He is the only retired school superintendent in America who returned to a tough inner-city high school to teach. He did it into his 70s, breaking up fights and preventing kids from stomping each other to death twenty feet outside his office. While Detroit may be one of the worst school systems in America, many others are plagued with the same problems and few former administrators, those with direct knowledge of what goes on are willing to speak out. An interview with Telford will provide an extraordinary look behind the scenes of a big city school system and some concrete steps to make it right. Telford’s snapshot of what is needed:
Praise for A Life on the Run “A Life on the Run” is a triumphant tale of teaching, fighting, loving, racing, civil-righteous rebellion, and raw courage. Dr. John Telford lays it on the line in exciting activist/educator style—like the exciting activist/educator he is.” —Professor John A. Powell, Executive Director, Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity ABOUT JOHN TELFORD John Telford has run on many tracks –not all of them always the right ones. He out ran Olympic champions, hosted radio shows, appeared on television, wrote over one thousand newspaper columns, coached and taught in ghetto schools and in colleges, led school districts and social welfare agencies and continues to fight for urban school reform and minority rights. Publication Information for Telford’s book: Title: A LIFE ON THE RUN: SEEKING AND SAFEGUARDING SOCIAL JUSTICE Author: Dr John Telford Harmonie Park Press Publication Date: January 2010 Price: $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-899901-49-7 Pages: 435 To schedule an interview, contact Gail Kearns, gail@topressandbeyond.com or 805-898-2263 |
|
