Comments on: Books!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:12:55 +0000

I am reading the book right now…and I’m liking it but I must say that I feel Patrick is writing in a way that is–a little racist. Personally, I cringe every time I read phrases like “the blacks” and “where blacks congregate”. I feel the same way when people say “that neighborhood is where Jews live” or “Jews generally…”, it just makes my skin crawl a bit. Whatever happened to “Black people” or “Black men” or “a predominately Black neighborhood”. It just turned me off. That and the way that Patrick seemed to write about Gober’s Black Panther past in a negative light, instead of discussing how the experiences Gober must have had growing up in a segregated America might have led him to feel a need to grow confidence in himself by being a member of a group that uplifts Black Americans (notice how that sounds better than “a group that uplifts blacks”?). He also incorrectly stated that minorities are not overrepresented in the military front lines. His site was to a newspaper article. Even a Heritage Foundation study found that Black Americans were overrepresented in the military (http://www.heritage.org/research/nationalsecurity/upload/85083_1.gif for those of you interested). He should have done his research before assuming that Gober was incorrect.

I also felt that he dwelt on the history of Catholic schools (including the history of Irish Catholics) a wee bit too much. Off topic. Isn’t there some history that would be on topic he could have talked about…like, oh I don’t know, the history of education for Black Americans? As a white woman, I found myself a little embarrassed in the tone of his book. I wish he would have thought some of his statements through before he wrote them.

Otherwise, an interesting book.

By: Tara

Tara — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 20:19:48 +0000

I can’t wait to read this book. I have taught at both a Catholic school and a public school. My children currently attend Catholic school while I teach at a public school. I have a strong interest in both.

By: Patrick J. McCloskey

Patrick J. McCloskey — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 20:57:08 +0000

Thanks for the comments about my book. It’s not out until January 2, 2009 and reviews are forthcoming, so hopefully there will be lots of attention. The book is intended as much for public educators as those in parochial schools since the Catholic model works best with inner-city students in my experience. Successful public schools share remarkable similarities to Catholic counterparts and religion aside, some charter schools do a great job. How important religion is to education, I leave the reader to decide.

By: gayle horning

gayle horning — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:57:56 +0000

I am looking forward to reading McCloskey’s “The Street Stops Here” . I am advocate of Catholic Schools. I have made the choice to send me children to a Catholic school. Next year, the oldest of my children will be entering a Catholic high school. I do teach in the public sector for financial reasons. I have made many sacrificies to provide a catholic education for my children. Often times I need reassurance that the sacrifices will be worth the rewards. Thank you for your insight.