The Essential 55

May 12, 2003
The winner of the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year Award presents some revolutionary ideas for the classroom: manners, industriousness and accountability. Many of the 55 rules Clark outlines read, at first, like excerpts from a 1950's primer: "If you are asked a question in conversation, you should ask a question in return," says Rule 6; stand to the right on escalators, insists Rule 43; and rule 29 includes 26 sub-rules about polite eating. Clark may seem like a bit of a fussbudget, but closer examination shows his rules go beyond simple politeness: they promote respect for self and others, and help foster a mature and responsible way of living in the world. As Clark explains each rule, he weaves in anecdotes of student projects, class trips (including one to Washington, D.C., where his students sang Christmas carols with the Clintons) and instances in which the particular rule proved invaluable. Clark, a North Carolina native, writes with a warm, Southern friendliness, and his cogent explanations about why he created his rules and his closing tips on dealing with parents and children offer plenty of ideas and much-needed support. Teachers will have to be determined to succeed before any set of guidelines will have an effect in the classroom, he warns-and indeed, Clark's tireless dedication might be daunting to some. And while the content of his lessons is presented only vaguely, for inspiration, this book is a definite winner; it also makes a strong case that students lack only good teachers to achieve great things. Clark's slim but valuable volume will make a welcome addition to any teacher's library.

May 1, 2003
At first, it seems odd that the 2001 Disney Teacher of the Year begins this work as an homage to his grandmother, but the reason quickly becomes evident. Unlike similar memoirs by award-winning teachers, such as John Tyler Gatto's Dumbing Us Down or even Rafe Esquith's There Are No Shortcuts, this work is little more than an annotated collection of familiar platitudes and bits of homespun wisdom. Clark may be a brilliant teacher, but he hardly shows why in this lightweight work, which includes admonitions against smacking one's lips and bringing Doritos into the classroom alongside expectations that all students will complete their homework every day. Clark has apparently been successful teaching in both rural and urban settings, and his students have been invited to the White House, but the reader can't imagine how he achieved these successes. Overall, the best word to describe his book is innocuous; there is no reason not to acquire it, but there is no compelling reason why one should. Not recommended.-Scott Walter, Washington State Univ. Lib., Pullman

Copyright 2003 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.