The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve    by Peg Tyre Order:  USA  Can Griffin, 2012 (2011) Hardcover, Softcover, CD, e-Book Read an Excerpt     Reviewed by Bob Walch Not only do studies show that the income gap between those with and without a high school diploma is ever widening, but that is also true between those with a college degree versus just a high school diploma. In a tight job market it has become essential that young people have the necessary skills to compete, which means they need the best education they can possibly find. Peg Tyre in The Good School: How Smart Parents Get Their Kids the Education They Deserve shows how parents can take a much more proactive role to make sure their youngsters get the most out of the school system. It goes without saying that as a parent you want the best for your son or daughter. The problem is, do you really know what that entails? Even if your child is attending a district where test scores are high, you can't assume that everything is as it should be. Tyre points out that roughly 30 percent of the students who are accepted to four year universities have to take remedial classes in order to do college level work. Obviously, all is not well within the system and the recent drop in SAT scores bears that out. The key to this book is that the author wants to show parents how to 'look under the hood' and be able to evaluate what they see to decide if this educational vehicle will get the student where he or she wants to be by graduation day. 'This book does not purport to be a blueprint for a perfect school,' writes Tyre. Nor does it address the situation of the youngster who has unique needs. Beginning with preschool you'll find a discussion of what to look for as your child moves through the various educational levels which hopefully, culminate with high school graduation. 'Look for preschools that are thinking, talking, and developing classroom practices around enhancing the so-called soft skills in students – ones that set the stage for school success,' advises Tyre. In the following chapters, testing, class size, reading and math skills are discussed. Determining if the school only pays lip service to providing a quality education or is really doing so is another issue addressed by the authors as is how to spot a good teacher, the type of educator who can really move a student forward. Highly readable with handy highlighted Take Aways at the end of each chapter that reiterates major points, this is a book that any parent will appreciate and find useful. 'When it comes to school, we need to get savvier about the choices we make for our children. I'm hoping this book will be your first step on that journey,' writes Peg Tyre. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews