Not with Our Kids You Don?t!: Ten Strategies to Save Our Schools

I know Juanita Doyon through the Assement Reform Network. I boycotted my state standerdized TAKS test. Juanita Doyon in her book "Not With Our Kids You Don't" gives a unique and witty portrayal of what is happening to schools across the country with a fresh and interesting perspective. Through the eyes of a mother on the front lines of education reform she shows her opinon on the maddness associated with standerdized testing. This book had me laughing and rolling over on the floor. I finally felt as though I'm not the only one out there who thinks these tests are doing more harm than good. Juanita does a good job of presenting her arguements against high-stakes testing and does a good job of using "common-sense" something, we Texans don't see much of when it comes to our state politics- especially concerning our public schools. Although, I recieved a free copy of this book after reading it I gave it to my mom who supported me through-out my boycott expierience for I felt it was a must for any mother with a child in a public school. She too enjoyed it and the book gave her more insight into why I made the decision to boycott. All in all if you have a child in public than read this book- trust me when No Child Left Behind gets in full gear your going to have wished you had! You go Juanita your speaking for all of us!

It seems as though 'Not With Our Kids You Don't' was written just for me. I laughed out loud and my husband rolled his eyes and nodded in agreement when I read him this home-hitting excerpt ... "When I say I'm a 'full-time activist,' I actually mean I'm obsessed. My family is extremely understanding; my husband hardly ever throws a fit about the cluttered house or the lack of a decent meal." (Pg. 48) I am one of the lucky ones -early on in my foray into activism, I received an email of welcome from Juanita Doyon (a.k.a. the Button Lady; the Room Mother of the Resistance Movement). She's the one that broke the news to me -- "Oh you've got it bad" she wrote with a "giggle, giggle" thrown in for good humor. Now I use Juanita's book as a special gift to break the news to new activists I meet along the resistance trail - on the inside cover I write "Welcome to the obsession." Behind every successful education activist there is a lot of friendship, great advice, and good natured ribbing -- this indispensable book is a great way to spead it around.

In this delightful, easy to read book, Juanita Doyon tells why she has made it her personal agenda to make sure no child is really left behind. With passion, focus, and humor she gives us lessons on how to become actively involved in education by relating her own experiences as a parent in schools. Doyon's book should be used as a manual for PTA's and PTO's nationwide, both for her cookie recipes and her wisdom.