BE HONEST

And Other Advice from Students Across the Country

By Ninive Calegari (editor), Introduction by Neko Case

These days the education system is a hot topic. Teachers, parents, politicians, and other professionals are all working hard to make sure their voices are heard on schools in America. However, there is one group of experts that does not always get to hold the microphone; the students.

Be Honest, And Other Advice from Students Across the Country is a powerful compilation of student writing, featuring essays, poems, and letters sharing their insights into the classroom. Sections include "Letters to Teachers," Vignettes Inspired by Sherman Alexie; "Going for Broke," Essays Inspired by James Baldwin; and "Help Us Help Ourselves," Essays Explaining What Schools Would Look Like if The Students Ran Them. Edited by co- founder of 826 Nínive Calegari, and with a foreword by singer-songwriter Neko Case, this book offers a fresh, youthful voice on American education.

"While learning about your students may not be 100 percent relevant to the subject you teach, it is 100 percent relevant to your success as a teacher as well as to the success of your students."—Marie Angeles, age 18, Seattle

"So I guess what I'm trying to say is that I fell from a very high mountain, and once I fell I got up and just walked away. And once I started walking, I started to see the change. I started to see that everything you guys make us do is for a reason. And all you wanted was to help."—Ruby Buendia, age 18, Chicago

"See, education for me starts with capturing my interest."—Jonathan Avila, age 16, Washington DC