If Holden Caulfield Were in my Classroom
Book Club Picks

Book Club Picks: If Holden Caulfield

Classroom warrior, Bernie Schein, is out to inspire the forgotten group of students in America - the middle schooler.

How does he do this? Well, buckle your seat belts because his classroom is not your conventional one...

Through the use of a class court system, complete with a judge, lawyers, a jury, and a constitution to uphold, Bernie's class rules themselves fairly and justly without his interference. He absolutely advises them, but he doesn't abuse his power and he expects that they won't either.

Through class counseling sessions, where a student may be asked to lie down on the floor in the middle of the room and count slowly with Bernie as they clear their head and come to understand their issue, students problems are given front and center attention. Whether the problem be a stuffed bra or the death of a parent, Bernie's class treats all concerns with empathy and encouragement.

Through creative writing workshops, Bernie's students strive to write the story they were born to write. Many of them start off with no idea what this might be, but with the help of the two aforementioned practices, they eventually find their way.

The result is a classroom where students are heard, where they are active participants, but most of all, where they are cared about.

Book Club Picks: If Holden Caulfield Opinion

I am standing on my chair applauding right now after having just put down Bernie's, as his students affectionately call him, book.

Seriously. I am.

The bottom line is this - any educator, notice I don't just say teacher, middle school or otherwise, needs to read this book. Not only is it a realistic account of what matters to twelve and thirteen-year olds, it's a caring form of classroom management, one that is meant to inspire and foster academic and creative thinking.

Parents and policy-makers alike may be shocked by it's content. They may think, "I would never put my child in a class where the teachers speaks like that. As a matter of fact, I know at least five people that would read Bernie's story and make this decision without ever really understanding or listening to the heart of the issue. The heart is this - our "lost" middle-schoolers are a society unto themselves, capable of academic, emotional, and personal greatness if we know how to help them find it. As Bernie notes, it's the truth behind things that really gets people going. So why not help these kids see their own truths? Whether it be abandonment by a father, sexual abuse by a babysitter, death of a parent, or jealousy over a sibling, the issues range to all ends of the spectrum and in Berne's class, all are given equal attention and consideration.

I urge you to read Bernie's story, to take his words to heart. What this educational systems needs right now is not another standardized test or a blue ribbon. What this educational system needs right now is not to scare off new teachers with statistics and percentages. What this educational systems needs right now is not to push our kids through, tired and strung-out because we don't know what do with their varying personalities and exceptionalities. What this educational system needs right now is lots of Bernies. Lots and lots of Bernies.

Hell, I'd like to be in Bernie's classroom...

Book Club Picks: If Holden Caulfield Discussion Questions

1. Are you inspired or appalled by Bernie's teaching style? Why?
2. Which student's life was most positively affected by his/her time in Bernie's classroom?
3. What piece of advice about letting your children find themselves can you put into action?

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