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The Nightmare That Is Public Education: An Exposé of What Really Happens in Public Schools exposes the tragic realities of neighborhood schools and boldly offers innovative and controversial solutions to the problems that continue to plague the public school system. Intended to inform parents and the public at large, this educational guide also challenges teachers and administrators to look honestly at their professional performance with the goal of helping young people learn to their potential. D. K. Venable wrote in her review: “Every parent, teacher, and citizen concerned for the future of America’s generations should take the simple initiative of reading The Nightmare That Is Public Education. Thank you, Dr. Nicolai, for writing it!” Summary of Contents In Chapter One, teachers will learn the eight essential qualities most teachers don’t possess. Using them will help students learn better than ever before. Parents will notice right away. In Chapter Two, both teachers and parents will know how to prepare a classroom’s physical environment as a valuable learning tool. Yes, when you know what to do, the classroom itself will become a priceless learning tool that will tremendously improve everything taught in it. In Chapter Three, teachers will understand how absolutely indispensable high academic and behavioral expectations and standards are to learning everything. This chapter is packed full of ideas, lists, and suggestions on how to promote and maintain high academic and behavioral expectations. It ends with a seven page description of the most important strategies used by teachers who truly understand how to teach high academic and behavioral standards. Teachers, you’ve never seen anything come close to this practical list of how to teach standards. In Chapter Four, teachers will become aware of the fact that at least 22 percent of instructional time is wasted in most classroom teaching periods. This chapter shows teachers how to improve their time management techniques with successful methods for starting class, changing activities within class, ending class, and asking questions expertly. In Chapter Five, teachers and parents will have their eyes opened to the superb methods many experienced teachers use to maintain classroom discipline and control. Teachers will find a comprehensive ten point explanation of an Educational Philosophy for Control of Student Behavior. Both teachers and parents will discover many innovative and no-nonsense strategies in the list of thirty-six Effective Methods to Control and Manage Student Behavior. In Chapter Six, everyone who reads this book will have their eyes opened to the fact that substitute teachers are victims, babysitters, and survivors. This is a tragedy that must be remedied because when substitute teachers are present very little if any learning takes place. In Chapter Seven, parents will be amazed at the culture that permeates public schools, and teachers will recognize that reticence, permissiveness, mediocrity, and progressiveness are literally ruining both learning and their profession. Teachers and parents need to take a stand. In Chapter Eight, the myths of in-service days, collegiality, and teacher evaluation are exposed. In Pleasant Dreams, the last chapter, teachers and parents will read about how teachers have the power to reform education throughout the United States. They can do this by employing, in their classrooms, with force and vigor, a simple idea contained in a single common word.
When asked why he wrote his book, Dr. Nicolai responded: “I was motivated to write this book for parents, so they would know what really goes on inside the schools and classrooms their children attend. Most parents don’t have a true picture of how broken and inadequate public schools are, especially middle schools and high schools. I also wanted to encourage teachers to improve their teaching performance so that students could learn to their potential. My book is filled with strategies, ideas, advice, lists, suggestions, methods, and much more – all designed to help teachers help the young people they teach.” For more information, visit my website at: www.drnickweb.com If you like to blog, take a look at my author blog site and share your ideas: http://www.publicschoolsarebroken.blogspot.com You may email me at: chat@drnickweb.com or drnick@surewest.net
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Parents, you owe it to your children to read this book because it will assist you immeasurably in helping them improve their achievement at school. Teachers, you won’t find a more realistic and honest description of how to teach standards, manage instructional time, prepare a classroom environment for learning, and supervise student behavior. Alan Caruba wrote in recent reviews: “I recommend this book to parents so that the blinders can fall from their eyes and especially to teachers who still have a desire to actually teach.” “Parents concerned for their children’s education will benefit greatly from the advice he [Dr. Nicolai] gives on how to spot the signs of either a good or bad teaching environment in their schools.”
“Dr. Nick” is a retired teacher and principal with thirty-eight years of experience in public schools. He taught grades seven through eleven, substitute taught in grades six through twelve, and was the principal of two elementary schools and one middle school. He also taught at National University in their teacher training program, has been a presenter at various school district meetings and educational conferences, and wrote curriculum materials for the Santa Clara County Office of Education (CA).
