The Education Formula

Maximizing The Village

Non-Fiction - Education
144 Pages
Reviewed on 10/21/2023
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    Book Review

Reviewed by Philip Van Heusen for Readers' Favorite

The education system in America is in a state of crisis. As an educator extraordinaire, Berwick Augustin has seen the decline in education standards and offers realistic steps to reverse the slide in The Education Formula: Maximizing the Village. Focusing on the importance of respect and accountability, Berwick shows how the two intersect and build on each other to foster growth. He places responsibility where it belongs and calls on parents, caregivers, politicians, community leaders, principals, policymakers, and students to work together to develop an educational system that will achieve more than they ever thought possible. Berwick acknowledges that parents are the most important educators and role models for their children. We are all educators to some degree and need to play our part to see that our children succeed. This book is a call to action and leaves no stone unturned. Whatever your role in the process, you will benefit from reading this book. The students in your community will also benefit greatly.

Berwick Augustine is not afraid to speak out. While many shy from any constructive criticism of the educational system, Berwick weighs in and exposes weaknesses and how to fix them. In The Education Formula, Berwick shares his experience, suggesting a way to improve schools and the school system. He writes frankly and does not back away from promoting pet projects. I certainly agree with him that when the goal is to prepare students to pass standardized tests, the quality of education will suffer. Berwick explains his theory carefully and shows that involving the community and other stakeholders in the educational system will prepare students for life and not just for passing examinations. This book is full of useful advice. Since there is so much information, plan on taking your time reading it. I highly recommend this book to the whole community and not just the formal teaching fraternity.

Pikasho Deka

America is in the midst of an education crisis. Underfunded schools, underpaid and overworked faculty, and increasingly overpopulated classrooms have brought decades of systemic flaws to the forefront. In The Education Formula: Maximizing The Village, Berwick Augustin takes a deep dive into these issues and examines how parents, students, educators, policymakers, and community leaders can come together to foster an educational environment where students' needs are taken care of and their potential maximized. Augustin emphasizes the need for parents to actively engage in parent-teacher conferences and educational discussions while setting healthy boundaries for themselves and their children. The author urges policymakers to take steps that promote critical thinking and creativity among students and draws attention to how leaders in administrative positions can play key roles in nurturing an inclusive school culture that celebrates diversity and promotes collaboration between students, faculty, and parents.

With the current state of the education system in America, there is an urgent need for a wake-up call and reforms. This is why The Education Formula is a must-read for policymakers, teachers, parents, and community leaders. Author Berwick Augustin offers some valuable insights into the ways the different stakeholders can improve upon the current educational system to bring about inclusive reforms and equality that benefit everyone. Augustin advises principals to involve families and community stakeholders in the education process. The book also encourages the service-learning process while emphasizing the need for integrating the latest technology into the school curriculum. One of the things I've been impressed with is how well-researched and thorough Berwick Augustin's exploration of the subject matter is. Overall, I found The Education Formula to be very informative and inspirational, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

Joe Wisinski

The Education Formula: Maximizing the Village by Berwick Augustin was written by an educator to address the many issues facing schools today. The author recognizes that schools are dealing with numerous problems, ranging from a lack of money and a shortage of teachers to the unequal treatment of students. These issues ultimately hurt those that education is designed to reach; children. The book is written to guide those involved at all levels of education, including parents, teachers, and the community at large. Each chapter is addressed to a particular group, including parents, policymakers, principals, educators, community leaders, and students. At the end of every chapter, there is a summary called Chapter Takeaways and a section named Probe and Transform, where readers are asked questions based on what they have just read. Augustin concludes this book with an extensive list of references and online resources for students.

The Education Formula by Berwick Augustin is an eminently practical book. Augustin draws on his extensive experience as an educator as well as his upbringing to make sensible, effective suggestions to improve education in today’s difficult environment. I liked the author’s conviction that it takes an entire community to properly educate students and the responsibility should not rest solely on teachers or administrators. Although I was an educator for many years, I learned some new ideas and the book reinforced other practices that I have engaged in. I found the Chapter Takeaways and the Probe and Transform questions to be especially helpful because they so clearly summed up major points and made me think about what I just read and apply it to myself. I recommend this book to all those involved in educating our young people.