Why I Wrote the Book. I'm concerned about my two young granddaughter's education. I've spent a lifetime in education and I want to be sure that when I'm gone their parents (and you) will have a reference to what I have learned and discerned. Why You Should Read the Book. There are defects in the American education system that the "powers-that-be" chose to ignore. You should know about them and be prepared to deal with them. There are pertinent questions to be asked and effective actions to be taken as you interact with your children, their teachers, principals, the superintendent and school board members. Topics include: School safety, from bullies to killers Indicators of effective classrooms Indicators of defective classrooms and how to deal with them Improving your child's test scores How students can learn the neglected basics Students and teachers being robbed of needed class time Dealing with inappropriate curriculum. If you have a crisis of the moment you can use the expanded Table of Contents to go directly to that issue.