"I Got Schooled :The Unlilely Story of How a Moonlighting Movie Maker Learned Five Keys to Closing America's Education Gap" by M. Night Shyamalan is a book on one persons view of how we could change the educational system to better affect the children we are supposed to be teaching.  Some of the Keys are ones that almost anyone would imagine but the amount of research that went into the writing of this book is amazing.  While I agreed with much of what he said I am also aware of the many challenges to effecting these changes.  

The Five Keys are Teachers (no surprise there!) Principals (again no surprise) Data, Small Schools and More time in school.

Teachers - This could be a difficult one as I have worked in education and I can see problems for change here.  The author also recognizes this but it is imperative that teachers always need to be working at becoming better and finding ways to engage their students.  I understand the anxiety that teachers have about evaluation but the author suggests some different ways to evaluate such as video evaluations, student learning growth and student surveys.  The student surveys might sound threatening but in those surveys the questions have nothing to do with whether or not you like the teacher but questions such as "The teacher in this class encourages me to do my best" or "Our class stays busy and does not waste time" or " My teacher takes the time to summarize what we learn each day."

All of us in other public jobs get evaluated every year and while there is some anxiety it is just part of the job and if one is working hard, has good relationships with their colleagues, the administration and the public and is always looking for new and innovative ways to improve it should go well.  No, I don't live in a fairyland but base my opinions on experience.

Principals and other administrators - The Principal is critical to improving the schools and it is important to hire principals who are not just managers but ones who are out and about the school, in classrooms and who set a positive tone for the school.  The author talks about the importance of creating the principal through proper training.  Leadership may not come naturally but must be learned.  It is also important the the bosses (Superintendents) have the same training so they can be supportive of their principals.  In doing the research the author and his team found that principals spend less time on the most important thing that affects student learning and that is instruction.  Principals in top performing schools spend approximately 80% of their time on instruction.  They model best practices, observe, and spend time in the classrooms.  When this becomes an established procedure it is no longer threatening.
Small Schools - The data shows that small schools with 400-600 students are able to achieve a definite impact on student learning and achievement.  It is easier for a principal to supervise a school with fewer students.  Some people who implement small schools do it over a period of time using one grade at a time and training teachers and changing the culture of the school.  This may be one of the hardest to implement as it would take remodeling or constructing new schools.  Some of the most successful schools in advancing student achievement have begun in the last 20 years.
More Time in School -  The author advocates for longer school days and longer school years.  We no longer need to be an an agricultural calendar as most students are not working in the fields any more.  These longer days and years help those in less affluent families more as those in more affluent families often are offered outside activities that help them to retain and even grow in knowledge.
I have to agree with most of these ideas but I do see problems in trying to implement them over a wide area partly due to cost and then partly due to the existing culture in many schools.  I have worked in education and have seen first hand the rebellion that arises when change is being implemented.  I have also seen principals who put their own goals ahead of those that may be best for the students and I have seen good and bad teachers but most of them are basically good and have the student's best interest at heart but need to be challenged and shown how to change to create a thirst for knowledge and energy in the classroom.
I have also seen parents who want easy grades for the children and have not put the value on good and challenging education.  I have seen an emphasis on athletics that overshadows the academic.  In my opinion this has has come about over the last 20-25 years.  It did not use to be this way.
Regardless of my opinions this is a book that can challenge educators and parents to rethink how they view the educational process ands work to achieve higher student achievement.