Thirty-Three Years Before the Mast

by Michael Angelo

The state of education in America is a subject of hot debate across the country. As we stand on the brink of an ever more demanding technological future, everyone agrees that our schools must become more dynamic centers for learning. Yet there is no consensus as to how we can achieve the educational goals that will prepare our children for a rapidly changing world. Thirty-Three Years Before the Mast is a cogent examination of public schools in America from the front-line perspective of a teacher with over three decades of experience. Michael Angelo has taught at both the high school and college level and has participated in the vast changes that have swept through the public education system during the years of his professional tenure. In this compelling book, he shares his insights on a number of topics relevant to the current crisis in education, including societal expectations of teachers, evolving cultural values and student attitudes, the value of standardized testing and the feasibility of implementing a national curriculum. Both an eloquent memoir and an important analysis of public education, Thirty-three Years Before the Mast is a timely and perceptive examination of American schools by a dedicated educator.

250 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001