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Rafe Esquith has taught at Hobart Elementary School for twenty-two years. His many other honors include the American Teacher Award, Parents magazine's As You Grow Award, Oprah Winfrey's Use Your Life Award, and the Compassion in Action Award from the Dalai Lama.

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.

Nola Theiss - KLIATT

Rafe Esquith is the winner of the American Teacher Award and a teacher in an inner-city school in Los Angeles, which he calls "The Jungle." His fifth-grade students score much higher than average on standardized tests, read beyond grade level, perform Shakespeare, take field trips around the world and continue to come to Saturday classes through middle school and beyond. He begins his day at 6:30 a.m. and rarely leaves before 6 p.m.; he teaches on Saturday and during vacations, all without extra pay, in order to give his students the best chance at success. His book is filled with his experience and advice to teachers and parents about how to help children learn. He also shares his mistakes and failures. While few people could keep up his schedule or energy level, his work is an inspiration to others. KLIATT Codes: JSA—Recommended for junior and senior high school students, advanced students, and adults. 2003, Random House, Anchor, 210p., Ages 12 to adult.