Be Honest

Students speak up about American education in this book from 826 National, the celebrated tutoring center founded by Dave Eggers and N nive Calegari. This unique volume collects personal essays, letters, and stories by dozens of high school students who were given the chance to speak their minds about their own education. From letters to their teachers to essays and vignettes inspired by the works of James Baldwin and Sherman Alexie, this collection of student writing contains startling insights for educators, parents, and anyone invested in our future. Be Honest includes writing from students across the country, of every ethnic group and financial bracket: A girl from an immigrant family is put in an ESL class even though her English is fluent; an African American boy talks about the social pressures that prevent him from asking his teacher for help; and a privileged private school student describes his transition to public school--and reports that he was able to learn more with the increased freedom it brought. The newest book from 826 National, the celebrated organization founded by Dave Eggers and N nive Calegari, coauthors of the bestselling Teachers Have It Easy--is a much-needed addition to the current national conversation about our schools. "826 helps young people learn that language can be play, that work can be joyful, and that they themselves can be the inventors and caretakers of their world. I have seen it with my own eyes." --Michael Chabon, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay