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There Are No Shortcuts Paperback – May 11, 2004

4.5 out of 5 stars 171 ratings

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Year after year, Rafe Esquith’s fifth-grade students excel. They read passionately, far above their grade level; tackle algebra; and stage Shakespeare so professionally that they often wow the great Shakespearen actor himself, Sir Ian McKellen. Yet Esquith teaches at an L.A. innercity school known as the Jungle, where few of his students speak English at home, and many are from poor or troubled families. What’s his winning recipe? A diet of intensive learning mixed with a lot of kindness and fun. His kids attend class from 6:30 A.M. until well after 4:00 P.M., right through most of their vacations. They take field trips to Europe and Yosemite. They play rock and roll. Mediocrity has no place in their classroom. And the results follow them for life, as they go on to colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford.
Possessed by a fierce idealism, Esquith works even harder than his students. As an outspoken maverick of public education (his heroes include Huck Finn and Atticus Finch), he admits to significant mistakes and heated fights with administrators and colleagues. We all—teachers, parents, citizens—have much to learn from his candor and uncompromising vision.
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Esquith is a modern-day Thoreau, preaching the value of good work, honest self-reflection and the courage to go one’s own way.” –Newsday

“Half-memoir, half ‘Chicken Soup for the Teacher’s Soul.’ . . . Esquith’s methods are not complicated, terendy, or political. . . . The perfect spokesman for the ‘pick yourself up by the bootstraps’ crowd.” –The New York Sun

“Freethinking, demanding, encouraging.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Passionate and inspiring...With anecdotes that are alternately amusing and disheartening, Esquith details the joys and frustrations of teaching and offers valuable insights to parents and teachers alike.” –Booklist

From the Inside Flap

The banner in Rafe Esquith?s classroom at Hobart Elementary School reads: ?There are no shortcuts.? And his students are a testament to the power of that philosophy. These are kids who speak English as a second language, fourth--and fifth--graders who go to school in a part of Los Angeles where violence and despair are the norms of the neighborhood.

But the statistics are not what you?d expect: Esquith?s students score in the country?s top 10 percent on standardized tests and go on to colleges such as Harvard, Princeton, University of Chicago, Swarthmore, Stanford, and UCLA. How do they do it?

Esquith?s view?that learning isn?t easy and that it shouldn?t be?is an increasingly unusual take among educators. Success, he believes, comes from a strong work ethic and from dedication and perseverance on the part of children, teachers, and parents alike. But such ideas prove to be a hard sell to those who believe that hard work and fun must be mutually exclusive. On the other hand, visitors from all over the world have made a pilgrimage to this astonishing classroom.

Esquith?s students work hard. They are in the classroom at 6:30 a.m. and stay until 5:00 p.m. They come to school during their vacations. Each year the Hobart Shakespeareans, as Esquith?s students are known, perform one of the Bard?s plays?Sir Ian McKellen and Hal Holbrook are passionate patrons. These Renaissance children are outstanding mathematicians and scientists; they read Steinbeck and Malcolm X; they are artists; they play classical music and blistering rock 'n' roll. Above all, they are recognized for their impeccable manners, which serve them well as Esquith accompanies them all over the United States. They are, as many observers have commented, the gold standard in American education.

His former students in middle and high school return on Saturdays, where they read Ibsen, Chekhov, and eight Shakespeare plays a year. In their ?Wake Up with Will? program, these eager youngsters travel the world with Esquith and his wife, from London to Paris to colleges all over the country. It?s a classroom where the American Dream really does come true.

There have been no shortcuts for Rafe Esquith, either. He had to learn the hard way: dealing with bureaucratic administrators, antagonistic colleagues, and his own impetuous and occasionally tactless, even confrontational, nature. But his history, peppered with funny and painful incidents, and a gallery of incisive portraits--Miss Mothball, Miss Busy-As-a-Bee, Mr. Incompetent--explains his extraordinary success as a teacher.

His scathing yet loving view from the front lines is the most trenchant look at American education to appear
in many years. It?s a full-alert warning signal, an inspiration, and a guide for teachers, parents, and all the rest of us who care about our country?s children.


From the Hardcover edition.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 11, 2004
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ Reprint
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 224 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1400030838
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1400030835
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.19 x 0.56 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 out of 5 stars 171 ratings

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Rafe Esquith
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Rafe Esquith has taught at Hobart Elementary School in Los Angeles for twenty-four years. He is the only teacher to have been awarded the president's National Medal of the Arts. His many other honors and awards include the American Teacher Award, Parents magazine As You Grow Award, Oprah Winfrey's Use Your Life Award TM, and People magazine's Heroes Among Us Award.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
171 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book inspiring and readable, with one review noting it provides lessons for teachers. They appreciate the author's dedication to education and students, with one mentioning how it touches students' lives positively.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

14 customers mention "Teacher effectiveness"14 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's approach to teaching, with several noting it is written by a real classroom teacher, and one customer highlighting its practical advice and detailed examples.

"...But he's a real classroom teacher who is writing from his direct experience, not an educational theorist or administrator who is fascinated by the..." Read more

"...Rather, it gives real-life stories and details to illustrate its message, which is invariably easier to read and digest...." Read more

"As a mother of young children, I found this book to be extremely helpful in terms of understanding the condition of education today, and where I..." Read more

"...the perspective in my work and I gained optimism to work and become a good teacher...." Read more

10 customers mention "Inspirational story"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the book inspiring, with one review highlighting the author's total dedication to education and students, while another notes how it touches students' lives positively.

"...But the one constant through all this is his total dedication to education and his students...." Read more

"...Rather, it gives real-life stories and details to illustrate its message, which is invariably easier to read and digest...." Read more

"...This book is a source of great inspiration to us all, all the more so because Rafe tells us about his problems as well as his successes...." Read more

"...Esquith's methods and philosophy with truly high-quality, meaningful children's literature, yet he does not even concede this fact." Read more

6 customers mention "Readability"6 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very readable and approachable.

"...and details to illustrate its message, which is invariably easier to read and digest...." Read more

"...The book is very readable and enjoyable. It is an eye-opener and a must-read. Teaching really is a calling." Read more

"...Very well written in a warm, affirming style." Read more

"...I am just philosophically at odds with this book. He's an OK writer." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2007
    When I was going through teacher education classes, we had books like "Summerhill" as our examples of out-of-the-box teaching. I hope today's future teachers are being exposed to Rafe. Is he a "typical" teacher? Not by any stretch of the imagination! Does he have lessons to teach teachers, whether they're just starting out or are grizzled veterans? Absolutely!

    Rafe's story is inspiring, awe-inspiring, and cautionary. He himself acknowledges that he goes to extremes, that he doesn't advocate his level of fanaticism for every teacher. But he's a real classroom teacher who is writing from his direct experience, not an educational theorist or administrator who is fascinated by the latest educational buzzwords and trends. He writes about what he's found that works, and he writes about attempts that have failed spectacularly. But the one constant through all this is his total dedication to education and his students. Everything he does is for them, and he's not one for moderation.

    To those who claim he's on an ego trip, that his activities are for his own self-aggrandizement, I've got to ask, "Did you read the same book I did??" He constantly points to the successes that are achieved as the successes of his students, not himself. Time and again, he says that he does not think of himself as an exceptional teacher; he just finds ways to help his students achieve exceptional things. And to the beginning teacher who complained that this was not a "how to" manual: he never claimed it was; in fact, he specifically says that this book is not meant to be that sort of guide. For that, he wrote another book ("Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire") that gives very detailed instructions for some of his activities.

    I'd wish every teacher and every parent to read Rafe's books. They give hope for what's possible in education.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2016
    If every teacher would aspire to be like the author of this book, Rafe Esquith, AND every parent read this book, we'd have no education problem in this country. Maybe that's an oversimplification but the message of the book is on point. Mr Esquith not only points out the issues that are facing many of the children in this country, but also shows how a dedicated teacher or group of educators can overcome those obstacles. The book is not a philosophical argument on what we need in education. Rather, it gives real-life stories and details to illustrate its message, which is invariably easier to read and digest. For everyone who thinks they know what is good for this country, they need to read this book.
    2 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 1, 2013
    Rafe Esquith puts his heart and soul into teaching and helps disadvantaged students to understand that they have to work hard in order to have the same opportunities as those more fortunate than them. In other words, there are no free lunches. The way Rafe goes about this is amazing and we can only wonder at his total commitment to the students. America is lucky to have such a teacher in its school system, not only emancipating his students, but writing about his experiences.

    This book is a source of great inspiration to us all, all the more so because Rafe tells us about his problems as well as his successes. These are problems with his teaching as well as with administrators, so the reader gets to see him as more human and approachable. This is important, since his effort and achievements seem superhuman at times and the reader can easily feel overwhelmed.

    The book is very readable and enjoyable. It is an eye-opener and a must-read. Teaching really is a calling.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2018
    good read.
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2003
    As a mother of young children, I found this book to be extremely helpful in terms of understanding the condition of education today, and where I might best extend my efforts at supplementing at home. I think it is a bit of a stretch to expect the average teacher to employ all of his tactics, as they would have little time left for their own families, but certainly there are many good ideas to work with.
    I completely agree that the reading programs we find in public schools today are grossly inadequate, and that they take much of the joy out of reading. Unfortunately, for most teachers, if they want to keep their jobs they must follow the scripted lessons. I am not certain what the best answer would be for their situation, but I am happy to work at home to provide the books and instruction necessary to instill a love of reading and literature in my children.
    4 people found this helpful
    Report
  • Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2024
    Great book
  • Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2015
    I am rookie teacher and first year was the hardest one. Thanks to this book I saw the perspective in my work and I gained optimism to work and become a good teacher. Rafe Esquith describes his experience as a teacher, his ups and downs. I like all his books! I read them over and over again and find there wisdom and power to overcome difficulties in my work. Thank you!
    One person found this helpful
    Report

Top reviews from other countries

  • YogiGroomer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Real stories from the trenches
    Reviewed in Canada on October 31, 2016
    The trials and tribulations of an outstanding teacher in a mediocre system. You will laugh and cry as you realize how unwelcome excellence can be to colleagues and administrators. But Esquith inspires us to do our best in a sometimes unappreciative and unfair world. Bravo!
  • Analise
    5.0 out of 5 stars I loved it
    Reviewed in Italy on October 30, 2018
    There are no shortcuts!
    Thanks Rafe for your work, also thanks to all the other good teachers! I fortunately had some of them.
  • Chris Downing
    5.0 out of 5 stars Down the Pub with Rafe
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 15, 2009
    This is the book of an evening with Rafe down the pub. And that isn't a criticism. Rafe tells it like it is and how he's experienced teaching as a top award winning primary school teacher in a really big Los Angeles school. It's not all wonderful moments of fulfilling teaching. It's not always grateful parents willing you to mould their children into better people. It's hard graft. It's heartbreaking at times. And after you've won almost every award and accolade society can give you - the authorities still want to change what you're doing.

    This is a book about what Rafe has learnt about the greatest job in the World - teaching primary school childern in a state school - and doing it in a socially difficult area. It isn't a do this do that and here's the check list sort of book. It reads like you've met up with Rafe at the pub after you've had a bad day and he tells you how it is. He says, so pull yourself togther, focus on the children, and raise your game to the best you can do, sod the system, focus on children and what they need rather than what you think they want.

    Every teacher should read this book. If you don't like it, that probably says more about you than him. Can you spot a description that sounds like you? After all Rafe has won just about all the awards going - so he must be doing something right.

    Here's Rafe's Bio - Rafe Esquith is an American teacher at Hobart Boulevard Elementary School, the second-largest elementary school in the United States, located in Los Angeles, California. A graduate of UCLA, Esquith began teaching in 1981. His teaching honors include the 1992 Disney National Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award, a Sigma Beta Delta Fellowship from Johns Hopkins University, Oprah Winfrey's $100,000 Use Your Life Award, Parents Magazine's As You Grow Award, National Medal of Arts, and Esquith was made an honorary Member of the Order of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth.

    Esquith's fifth-grade students consistently score in the top 5% to 10% of the country in standardized tests. Many of Esquith's students voluntarily start class at 6:30 each morning, two hours before the rest of the school's students. Most of his students come from immigrant Central American and Korean families and are learning English as a second language. They volunteer to come early, work through recess and stay as late as 6:00 pm, and also come to class during vacations and holidays.

    Good CV eh? I thought I could learn from someone like that. I was right. I wish I could make this book mandatory reading for all teachers, not only a music teachers like me.
  • Clare Odia
    5.0 out of 5 stars A 'Must Read' for Teachers
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 10, 2014
    For all teachers who want to be inspired and who want to become better /excellent /outstanding teachers. A definite 'must read'.
  • n*****d
    5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
    Reviewed in Canada on October 8, 2014
    Great listening.