James Hussey provides intelligent, straightforward and sometimes controversial takes on a wide variety of educational issues. While Hussey was serving his first three-year term as a school board member, he wrote more than 100 thoughtful newspaper essays in which he publicly explored the issues facing his board. The articles were well received and, as they increased in number, Hussey was urged to compile them into a book. Reading the resulting collection, Hussey's journalistic skills and breadth of educational experiences are apparent. It also is obvious he is a master at using anecdotes, quotations and humor in bringing fresh meaning to the topics he covers. Report Card covers a range of interesting topics at multiple levels, enabling his work to appeal to both popular and professional audiences. It is also suited as a supplemental text in education courses at all levels. Hussey courageously faces contentious issues head on. As examples, he takes on 1) teacher certification requirements;2) programs designed to reward better boardsmanship; 3) school athletics and coddled athletes; 4) evaluations of teacher quality and performance; 5) racial injustice in the educational system; and 6) infusing foreign languages and global perspectives int

- James F. Bemis, executive director emeritus, Commission on Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges,

James Hussey provides intelligent, straightforward and sometimes controversial takes on a wide variety of educational issues. While Hussey was serving his first three-year term as a school board member, he wrote more than 100 thoughtful newspaper essays in which he publicly explored the issues facing his board. The articles were well received and, as they increased in number, Hussey was urged to compile them into a book. Reading the resulting collection, Hussey's journalistic skills and breadth of educational experiences are apparent. It also is obvious he is a master at using anecdotes, quotations and humor in bringing fresh meaning to the topics he covers. Report Card covers a range of interesting topics at multiple levels, enabling his work to appeal to both popular and professional audiences. It is also suited as a supplemental text in education courses at all levels. Hussey courageously faces contentious issues head on. As examples, he takes on 1) teacher certification requirements; 2) programs designed to reward "better boardsmanship; 3) school athletics and coddled athletes; 4) evaluations of teacher quality and performance; 5) racial injustice in the educational system; and 6) infusing foreign languages and global perspectives into the curriculum. While Hussey does not expect his readers, including this one, to agree with everything between Report Card's covers, it is inarguable that Report Card is a collection of expertly written essays exploring contemporary issues affecting our schools. Grade: A+.

- James F. Bemis, executive director emeritus, Commission on Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges,