Learning by Heart - Softcover

"In a very large chorus of proponents of school reform, Roland Barth's voice stands out. As usual, his grounded wisdom makes so much sense. He rightfully puts the locus for improvement in the hands of teachers and principals. He outlines some ideas for creating a community of learners at the local level. He shares some fresh thoughts for developing educational leaders-teachers and principals. Bust most important, he restores the zest and sacredness of learning-the heart of education."
—Terrence E. Deal, Irving Melbo Professor, Rossier School, University of Southern California

"Roland Barth has done it again! His wisdom and compassion, added to his ability to cut through 'flavor of the month' reforms and get to the fundamentals of changing school cultures, make this book a critical read for all educators who care about making good schools for students and their teachers."
—Ann Lieberman, senior scholar, Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and emeritus professor, Teachers College, Columbia University.

"Plain-spoken and persuasive convictions about schoolkeeping by a wise and humane educator."
—Theodore R. Sizer, chair, Coalition of Essential Schools, Inc.

"There is learning here for anyone who cares about education and how to create dynamic schools. Roland Barth brings both flaming passion and cool thoughts to this powerful book by reflecting on his conversations with those of us working to improve schools."
—Yvonne Chan, principal, Vaughn Next Century Learning Center

Down-to-earth, inspired, and full of wisdom, Roland Barth knows what it takes to create wonderful schools for youngsters and adults alike. Learning by Heart is the long-awaited sequel to Improving Schools from Within. A decade after publication of his best-selling book, Barth returns to the schoolhouse. Drawing from a career committed to building schools rich in community, learning, and leadership, he shows how to accomplish the most difficult task of school reform-transforming a school's culture so that it will be hospitable to human learning. In an engaging conversational style, he suggests how school people can become the architects, engineers, and designers of their own schools-and of their own destinies. "The way we do things around here" is incredibly resistant to change. Yet shaping a school's culture so that it encourages risk-taking and invention is the critical precondition for building a community of learners and leaders. Barth invites the reader to accompany him on a journey to examine the things that really make a difference in schools-building community, developing leadership, encouraging risk-taking, inspiring a lifelong love of learning, reflecting on practice, celebrating craft knowledge-and poses for teachers and principals the tough questions that will guide each of them on their own journey to discover their vital work and give their heart to it. The Author Roland S. Barth is one of the country's most renowned educators and the author of the best-selling Jossey-Bass book Improving Schools from Within (over 100,000 copies sold). He has been a public school teacher and principal, recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship, and member of the faculty of Harvard University where he founded the Harvard Principals' Center and the International Network of Principals' Centers.